THE region’s police officers have shown they’re as good on the football field as they are at crime fighting.
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The Oxley Cods from Oxley Local Area Command, coached by Acting Inspector Geoff Sharpe, beat the Hunter Valley Broncos in a game that raised $10,000 for the Rise for Alex foundation in aid of Alex McKinnon, who is from Aberdeen.
The teams played on July 9 in Singleton with a full squad of players representing every section of the Oxley LAC.
Acting Inspector Sharpe said the game was played in good spirits.
Oxley LAC Inspector Jeff Budd scored the opening try off a chip-through from Senior Constable Todd Petrie.
“He showed amazing pace for a man of his years and scored,” Acting Inspector Sharpe said.
The Broncos levelled 10 minutes later and the score was 4-all at half-time.
Acting Inspector Sharpe said there was good rugby league played in the second half, but when Craig Thomas and Jason Darcy started running through the Broncos’ pack, Inspector Budd scored another try and Brodie Sowter scored in the corner. Todd Petrie then scored under the posts, putting the Cods in front 18-10 by the end of the match.
Inspector Budd was named Player’s Player and Man of the Match by the referee.
“It just shows that Oxley LAC, as well as needing more police, also needs a quick injection of some young rugby league playing talent as we’ve got a few old blokes and need some fast backs,” Acting Inspector Sharpe said.
“It made a lot of us retired footballers remember why we retired, with us feeling a few bumps and bruises the next day.”