The Philippine Airlines (PAL) Tamaraws again entered 4 teams in the Cabramatta International 9s tournament held at St Mary’s Rugby League club last month. Teams 3 and 4 reached the quarter finals while Teams 1 and 2 the Semi-finals.
On the eve of this year’s tournament, PAL Tamaraws Head coach and Philippine Rugby League founder Clayton Watene announced his retirement. It was only fitting that the PAL Tamaraws wanted to send off Clayton on a high note.
Our inaugural entry into this tournament in 2012 looked like history repeating itself with the PAL Tamaraws having an opening loss to Blacktown Workers 22-10. It was followed by an 18-18 draw against Cook Islands and a resounding victory over Portugal at 24-8.
The Tamaraws had a tough encounter in the Plate Quarter finals against the Fijians in preparation for the South Pacific Games. Initially, both teams scored 3 tries each with PAL Tamaraw Tom Gunn, who flew down from Darwin to play in this tournament. Gunn scored the crucial last try for the Philippines bringing the final score to 16-14!
The PAL Tamaraws were [scheduled] to face another Pacific Island nation in American Samoa. They had flown in many of their players from New Zealand, in preparation for the South Pacific Games.
The Philippine team dug deep into the ranks of the American Samoans being in possession of the ball from kick off. They worked hard to get into a scoring position with only one tackle left and 13 seconds to go, a speculative pass was thrown which was intercepted by American Samoa ending a repeat of the 2012 Fairy Tale!
A Facebook message sent to Mark de Ubago, coach of the Philippine team 2 by one of his players summed up the reason why so many Filipino Australians and New Zealanders passionately get involved with the PAL Tamaraws. Will Simpson: “It was an honour representing my motherland today at the Cabra 9s tournament. Hardest game(s) of footy I’ve played, was a very good experience thanks Mark and the Philippines National Rugby League for the effort put in managing 4 teams in this comp playing at two separate parks. — feeling honored at St Marys Rugby League Club.”
(The Philippine National Rugby League is the governing body of Rugby League Football in the Philippines. Its mission is to enable Filipinos to have a healthy lifestyle through their participation in Rugby League Football and to be competitive amongst the Asian Rugby League playing nations.)