Australian Army Rugby League - the Army Thunder - clashed with the Sawtell Panthers in Bellingen, NSW, for the annual Sergeant Matthew Locke MG charity match.
The 17th annual event was held on the NSW mid-north coast to celebrate the service and memory of Sergeant Locke, a Bellingen-born Special Air Service Regiment soldier and recipient of the Medal of Gallantry, who was killed while on deployment in Afghanistan in 2007.
For Lance Corporal Lachlan Barnes it was a surreal experience to be in Bellingen to meet and play alongside people who knew Sergeant Locke.
"It gave me goosebumps straight away, to see how much this game means to the community," Lance Corporal Barnes said.
The gravitas behind the event was on his mind as he prepared for the match.
"I'm thinking about the ultimate sacrifice that was made, and I'm thinking about taking that onto the field, unlocking what I can to the best of my ability for my mates."
Army Thunder defeated the Sawtell Panthers 26-20 to claim the Sergeant Matthew Locke MG Shield for the third year running.
President Australian Army Rugby League Colonel Matthew Stevens said the annual match was a great way to commemorate the life of a fallen Australian soldier and local.
"Each year the Army Thunder come to Bellingen, this game gets bigger and bigger," Colonel Stevens said.
He said the deeper connection between the Army and the community evoked a sense of pride.
"We are so proud of how sport and national service come together on the NSW mid-north coast, and we're thrilled this annual event has become a hallmark on the local community calendar," Colonel Stevens said.
Founded in 2005, Australian Army Rugby League has continued to grow and support soldiers across Australia to combine tactics and skills of military life with the teamwork and mateship of sport.
Participation in the Locke Shield squad supports selection for representation in the Interservice Rugby League Competition and the ADF Rugby League clash against the New Zealand Defence Force team on Anzac Day.
