Dubai Dingoes down Doha Kangaroos

DOHA Kangaroos Australian football team hosted the Dubai Dingoes at Doha Rugby Football Centre (DRFC) last weekend for the Anzac Cup, which the home team lost by 85 points to 79.

 

The match had a late start as the Dingoes were delayed at the Dubai airport for about eight hours due to a technical snag.

 

Displaying their immense commitment, the Dingoes eventually made it to the DRFC for a kick-off, a couple of hours after the scheduled time.

 

However, this delay allowed people sufficient time to spend money on raffle tickets, refreshments and the donation box, all of which were handed over to Frank Kleintiz, to meet his expenses for the treatment and rehabilitation costs caused by a horrendous motor bike accident.

 

The Kangaroos who led for much of the match, managed to score 12 goals and 7 behinds, but their counterparts from Dubai stole victory at the end by managing just six more behinds.

 

After the match, coach and captain of the Kangaroos, Gary Johnson said that it had been a "good, close game, in which both teams tried really hard to win." He said: "We had six players who were playing Australian Football for the first time, and everyone really enjoyed it. We played really well, but they have a strong team, and their extra bit of quality won through in the end."

 

Johnson also thanked the Dingoes for making the effort to travel, and said that he was looking forward to the fixture becoming an annual event which will be played the weekend before Anzac Day every year.

 

Winning captain, Mick Patton thanked his opposite number for helping to organise the event, and hoped the game would be played more often in the region. Patton also said that plans for a series of league games could be finalised and started in the near future.The two players, Kim 'Plugger' Harris from the Dubai Dingoes and Billy Barker from the Kangaroos, who produced excellent performances were named the "men-of-the-match."

 

The Kangaroos have thanked their sponsors namely Rydges Plaza Doha, Crown Relocations, QDC as well as GHD and Marinspect, who sponsored the shirts and shorts respectively. Johnson added that anyone interested in playing the sport should get in touch with him and pointed out that "we play Australian Football for fun, exercise, but most importantly, for the social aspect, which is a great way to meet like-minded people."