Posts
 | |
| Players in the Synod touch football competition |
Synod wouldn’t be the same without the city
vs country touch football game, named after the mythical (some say legendary) former
Trinity Theological College Student Charles Farnsworthy.
Despite the game being used as an example
for the whole of synod on voting practices on Friday night, it was uncertain
whether country would have enough starters. Thankfully though, country rallied
and was able to provide a team to maintain their hold on the trophy and
bragging rights.
Former Country player Paul Clarke revelled
in being back in the City team (some suggested that country would now be
stronger) and rallied teammates Tim Robinson, Lu Senitulli and John Dansie in leading
the charge. City opened the game at a fast pace, but were kept in check by
referee Linda Hanson (despite being without a whistle). Clarke scored first
points of the match, but the celebrations were short lived as Country’s Greg
Adsett scored quickly surprising a complacent Senituli.
Country continued their embarrassment of
City’s much fitter looking team after a marvellous display of showmanship and
footwork from Tim Robinson backfired. A comment from the sideline questioned
City’s fitness after asking Deception
Bay’s Dansie why he was
sweating more and breathing harder than the older guys on his team. He admitted
only to running harder.
A confusion of sports almost cost Senitulli
his place on the team after a volleyball esque spike almost lost a try, but a
quick footed John Ruhle recovered the ball and scored for City. A late
substitution on by Greg Rankin was Country’s secret weapon as no sooner was he
on the field, he had assisted Brendan “Hoops” Hooper in crossing the line for a second time.
Country led at half time not showing the
effects of the warm midday sun, City on the other hand feeling the pressure saw
Peter Lockhart flat out on his back bemoaning the youthful exuberance of the
country team (and wanting oxygen and Summer Madness Coffee in that order). He
quickly recovered though and as the second half began, so too did City’s
resolve. They pushed hard against Country forcing mistakes but the on field
encouragement from Jim Pearson rallied Country, forcing an out of bounds run
from Robinson and a try disallowed by the ref. “Hoops” and Tim Griggs scored in
quick succession taking City by surprise again and cementing their narrow lead.
 |
| City pause for prayer after the game; perhaps asking for victory next year? |
By the end of the game, City had been
outclassed once again and Country were able to take home bragging rights and
their place on the trophy winning the match 6-4. In post match interviews, Tim
Robinson from Logan UC commented that his running was impaired by eating too
much of the fine cuisine offered by Alex Park staff, but also admitting that
Country were “a much fitter team, the score didn’t reflect the true
competiveness of the game…Country beat us far more convincingly than that ”.
Both City and Country had strong representation from across the Synod, although
heads were being scratched at Scott Guyatt’s choice of an Lions AFL guernsey
for the game. Spectators were up on previous matches with many intrigued passer
bys stopping for to witness the spectacle that is the Charles Farnsworthy
Memorial Cup.
Also published in UCA QLD magazine "Journey"
