After the traditional Aussie smokoe, the match really started at 1100 with the temperature rising to 24C and the humidity starting to kick in after the heavy rains of the day before. The winds remained very light but sufficient to start to push the teams out. Oz shot very quickly as usual and after 35 mins had cleared 6 shooters to GB's 4 and had dropped 11 points to GB's 15 over the first four shooters. Australia finished after 48 minutes with GB still with two shooters to go. With the wind dying, Tim Kidner and Paul Monaghan needed 74s to level the range. In the event they made 74 and 72 respectively to make Australia one ahead going into the last distance.
At lunch, the rain came down whilst the team tucked into Subways and fruit provided by the team victualler, Chris Law.
The match restarted at 1.30pm in a brief shower. As the quiet was broken by the pop of the rifles, the wind flags fell and clung to the poles. This was going to be a match won by the technical preparation of the teams and the steady aim of the shooters and not by the fine judgement of the wind coaches.
Alan Blain started well for Oz by putting down a 75.4 in 7 minutes. He was backed up with a 73.9 by Shane Courtney. Jim McAllister for GB started very well but took an inexplicable low magpie at shot 10 but didn't let it affect him and made a solid 73.11; Ted hobbs made 73.4. Oz had taken 2 more points out of GB.
The two back gunners then started: Alex CT remained rock steady and shot a fine 74.6. Meanwhile Phil Bain for Australia put in another 75 for the Ozzies backed up by a 73 from Lew Horwood. Julian Peck for GB had a worrying couple of sighters but stuck to the task to put in an excellent 75.8. One back for GB. Oz 2 ahead.
The wind had now shifted round and had started coming gently in from the right, but nothing that created any great difficulties for any of the coaches. Oz had also markedly slowed from their pace from the earlier ranges almost to the point where it seemed tactically they wanted to shoot the same conditions as us.
Barry Southern for Oz shot a 74.8 but David Freebairn had a low magpie like Jim and could only manage a 70.6.
In response Tom Smith for GB made a 72.2. Si Whitby and Paul Monaghan started. If our next shooter could make 74, the match would be even.
Our team paused as the Ozzies started their last 2. Paul Monaghan finished with a 72.4. Ozzies still 2 ahead.
Rob Halloran lost a few shots in the middle of his string to end with a 71. 2. Adrian Abbott was tail man charlie for the antipodians and slowly and solidy notched up a brilliant 75.10. But on our side Si Whitby had by then made a 70.2. GB couldn't win.
Tim Kidner lay down and finished proceedings. And even if it didn't matter he finished an excellent meeting with a lovely 75.6 and top gun for the Brits with 224.
So there it was, Oz won with an equal record score of 1762 beating GB by a mere three points. It was a quick match but Oz shot extremely well to hold off GB to take a well earned win.
And so to Toomwoomba and Coonabarabran....
Will Meldrum blogged today.
