2016 Rio Paralympics: Australia edge out arch-rivals USA to take gold in Murderball thriller

RYLEY Batt was the star as Australia closed the Paralympic Games with a stunning defence of their London 2012 wheelchair rugby gold-medal breakthrough.

Ryley Batt was the star performer for the Aussies in their gold defence.

RYLEY Batt’s name comes up short.

Ryley Billyclub would work. Or Ryley Axehandle. Ryley Chainsaw, maybe. Whatever it takes to paint a picture of the best of the best in a sport better known as Murderball.

Because here, draped in the 22nd and final Australian gold medal of these Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, is a pure weapon.

Batt was the dominant MVP as Australia’s Steelers closed the Games with a stunning defence of their London 2012 wheelchair rugby gold-medal breakthrough, beating the United States 59-58 in a double-overtime thriller.

The Aussies’ gold was the final medal presented at the Games, and marked the first time any nation had won back-to-back wheelchair rugby Paralympic titles and a world championship in a four-year stretch.

Ryley Batt was tightly marked by the USA defence.

Australia also became just the second two-time Paralympic champions since the sport gained full Games status in 2000, joining the US.

“We knew it was never going to be the same as London,” captain Ryan Scott said.

“In London we won every quarter of every game. But over the last couple of years teams have caught up to us and it was never going to be like that again.

“There was always an asterisk over us because we avoided the US in London, but we wanted this. We wanted to beat them and show everyone that we can do it.

“We knew that if we did win it here, we had to earn it. And we feel like we’ve really earnt it.”

In any sport, the best type of game plan is the one every rival knows, yet still can’t stop.

And so it is for the Steelers: Get the seed to Batt.

Double-teamed, he scores. Triple-teamed, goal. And if the Port Macquarie boy somehow finds himself blocked in an impossible corner, there’s three mates wide open to take the pass.

Ryley Batt was the hero as Australia took gold.

With the rolling step of Benji Marshall and the power of Tony Lockett, Batt is balletic and brutal all at once.

But like Bill Ponsford to Don Bradman, Chris Bond is the Steelers’ vital quiet achiever, smashing in with blocks and hits, or cutting forward into open space.

Batt and Bond combined for 48 of Australia’s 59 goals – and most of Bond’s 21 came from his ability to find open space offered by his blockers and the US’s focus on Batt.

Fittingly, Batt was in possession when the siren blasted to end the second over-time period with Australia a point in front, and went crashing to the floor in celebration.

“Mate, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my life,” Batt said.

“I really shouldn’t say that, because I’m married, and the wedding day is meant to be the best day of your life.

“But I think the missus would agree. It’s pretty cool. World champions, two-time gold medallists in a row, double over-time game by one point – on top of the world.”

If the marathon is the traditional closer to the Olympic Games, then the Paralympics is all about its “murderball” finale – and the Aussies and the United States lived up to the hype in Rio’s 12,500-seat Olympic Arena that sold out days in advance.

Chris Bond and Cameron Carr celebrate Australia’s incredible win.

After a tight opening half the Aussies dropped their composure in the third period, coughing up two quick turnovers to hand the US vital goals.

A deadlock at full-time and again after the first overtime pushed the contest to a second three-minute extra-time period.

Only a US penalty with four seconds to play when trying to equalise sealed the victory for Australia.

“That’s experience, that’s fitness that has come in right there,” Batt said.

“That’s coaching, all the work we’ve done, all the support, all those one percenters.

“They all paid off in the end. We knew we could do it, it was a grind-out game and I’m so thankful we’re on that (winning) side of it.”

Originally published as 2016 Rio Paralympics: Australia edge out arch-rivals USA to take gold in Murderball thriller