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New Zealand Triumphant In Bloody Slow Cup
Wednesday, 31 October 2007 3:47pm
RugbyWA
The New Zealand representatives have claimed the 2007 edition of the Bloody Slow Cup after a 43-5 victory over their Australian counterparts in their annual clash to raise funds for Police Legacy.
The scoreline did not reflect how closely contested the game was. The Kiwis enjoyed the majority of ball possession and territory, but it was the Aussies that showed a lot of grit by consistently challenging the stronger opposition pack.
ET Perth Spirit players Kieran Longbottom and James Stannard attended the event, helping both the Australian and New Zealand teams and coaches, and also offering comments and encouragement. RugbyWA Smarter Than Smoking Development Coordinator Col Richardson ran a development clinic prior to the main match with a focus of introducing children to rugby.
The Bloody Slow Cup is an initiative that was prompted by the deaths of four police officers when their aircraft, returning to Newman from an operational activity, crashed close to the town. The concept of the Bloody Slow Cup was to hold an annual rugby union match between Australians and New Zealanders in the town in October to raise money for the Police Legacy fund which provides support to the families that have been affected by the crash.
In the curtain raisers, the Dunsborough Golden Oldies, more affectionately know as the Cowpats, played Newman’s equivalent, the Capricorn Blulites, for the ANZCORP Cup. Both sides showed good form and classic Golden Oldies adherence to the laws including the requirement to pass the ball after running 30m. The Blulites ran out winners 20–5.
The McMahon Cup was won by the ladies representing New Zealand, who ran in several late tries to recordm a 7-3 win in their game of Touch Rugby against the Aussie ladies.
Senior Sergeant and Officer in Charge Geoff Stewart and Constable Tony Signal from the Newman Police Station, two of the main organisers for the Cup, have both been instrumental in getting it to its current state. The event has grown every year with estimates this putting the crowd between 2,000 and 3,000.
RugbyWA would like to thank the volunteers and the Officers of Newman Police Station and surrounding areas for their hospitality and effort in making this year’s Cup a great spectacle and a worthy fund raiser for WA Police Legacy.