Photos: Peter Oliver Imagery.
Happy Sunday,
Goulburn’s first ever Old Boys (and Girls) Day yesterday was a huge success by any measure. Hopefully the tradition continues every year from now on, and the person who suggested the idea should receive double their volunteer salary instantly. Here are just some of the highlights:
- Large numbers of Old Boys on deck in their retro playing and supporters gear.
- The official presentation of Life Membership to Kevin “Bubby” Fitzsimmons.
- Adam Lachlan running out for his 100th game.
- The first grade side, wearing replica jumpers of the 1975 Dirty Reds that won their grand final 50 years ago, having a dominant (and very timely, leading into the semis) win against Gungahlin.
- Some very rowdy singing of the club song and a few other favourites by a combined choir of current and former players in the sheds after the game
- A very successful, and profitable, jumper auction that raised a bunch of money for the club.
- A very generous gesture by players and supporters to chip in for jumper 12 to be presented to Life member and 1975 grand final winner Gary Stephens.
Too much to go into great detail on each but a couple of things deserve to be highlighted. Kevin “Bubby” Fitz is one of the great contributors to the club and a stalwart long deserving of induction as a Life Member. In his decades with the club he played at all grade levels, coached and managed at all grade levels (including being our last John I Dent coach), was a frequent committeeman and a former president (including overseeing our opening of Poidevin Oval), he was an active member of the original Fermented Reds and donated the Kevin “Bubby” Fitzsimmons Encouragement Award for lower grade players always having a red hot go.
Such is the quality of the man, that when he moved up North he became heavily involved with the SCU Marlins rugby club in Coffs Harbour and was awarded Life membership there. It was his old mate and former playing colleague Gary Stephens who suggested that Bubby be considered for his long overdue Life Membership and so it was particularly fitting that he provided comments before he and club president Beck Rudd presented him with his Life Member jacket and tie. Congratulations Bubby… on a personal level you were a big part of my early years in the club, an inspiration of commitment and someone richly deserving of the honour.
Adam “Daisy” “Petal” “Quagmire” Lachlan is a more recent long-time servant of the club. In any conversations about the club’s greatest ever fullback, Adam’s name is surely one of the names being discussed. While he started playing in 2010, he has had years that he skipped (some while serving this nation in the army) and a number of years where he was only able to play one or two games, all of which dragged out how long it’s taken him to reach the 100 games milestone. But 100 appearances on the paddock is still a rare and significant feat and requires years of training nights, of travelling to and from away games and backing up to make sure your team mates aren’t short of numbers.
In his 100 games, when he wasn’t collecting ridiculous nicknames, he was scoring tries (57 of them) conversions (just the one – I believe Webber was busy arguing with the ref and Adam opportunistically snuck under his guard while he was distracted) and zero field goals (there’s still time). Arise centurion – it’s been a great playing career and one we’d like to hope still has some years left to go.
In the footy, the gallant women who have had bare numbers and often not even enough numbers gamely took the field for two matches at Bungendore. With no bench they weren’t ever a great chance of winning but they finished the season on the paddock and not with forfeits. Congrats on hanging in there for a very tough season and hopefully recruitment can give you the numbers and the opportunities you deserve next season.
The reserve grade side lost to Gungahlin but geez they gave it a red hot crack, I’d go so far as to say it was their gutsiest effort this year. More on that below. And then the firsts had a very convincing win against Gungahlin that keeps them safely in third spot for now (although the other teams all play next weekend so everyone will be keeping an eye on those results).
Let’s get to the footy.
Seniors
Click on hyperlinks for score sheets, reports and further details.
ACT Third Grade: A third win on the trot was exactly the sort of form and momentum the Goulburn Dirty Reds firsts needed as they prepare for an assault on the semis, and that’s exactly what they got in their 46-19 victory over Gungahlin. And not just a win but a dominant showcase for their ongoing improvement. Defence that counted… attacking runs that paid off. By half time Goulburn led five tries to one. In the second half they added three more to Gungahlin’s two. Eric Brown and Josh Condylios each got try-fectas, Adam Lachlan marked his 100th match with a try and Taniela Halafihi, when he wasn’t doing his best to get yellow carded, ran one in as well.
Goulburn now sits in third spot but as Goulburn has the bye next week, results from other games may have some bearing on Goulburn’s final position. In two week’s time Goulburn will take on Tuggeranong at Viking Park in the final match of the home and away season proper. But for now, here’s a stirring rendition of the team song.
ACT Fourth Grade: Last week when the Dirty Twos lost, they were probably slightly off their game. But even though they lost this week, they were very much on their game. Competition leaders Gungahlin didn’t know what hit them as the Dirty Twos continually out-hustled, frustrated and disrupted the eagles. This is a very good Gungahlin side, peppered with more than a few higher graded players and well-deserving of their place on the table. And in that context the Goulburn performance was superb. Scrappy at the breakdown, putting together lengthy phases, never throwing in the towel against a clearly bigger and well-drilled opponent. There was a 22 minute period in the first half when the Dirty Twos denied the eagles any scoring, and also a 20 minute period in the second half. That may not sound like much but it was “hanging tough” at its best.
This match showed some of the Dirty Twos best attitude and commitment. On paper they are still a chance of making the semis depending on how other matches land over the next two weeks, but whether they make it or not, these “baby Reds” have stuck it to all of the sides they’ve played, including some impressive wins, and if we can keep them together they’ll be a force in future seasons.
ACT Women’s 10s: Goulburn v ADFA: No match reports or photos available for this match, please follow the link for match sheets, scorers, best and fairest etc.
ACT Women’s 10s: Goulburn v Cooma: No match reports or photos available for this match, please follow the link for match sheets, scorers, best and fairest etc.
Around the Grounds:
ACT Premier Third Grade
- Goulburn 46 bt Gungahlin 19
- Wests 38 bt Royals 7
- Uni-Norths 22 bt Queanbeyan 19
- Tuggeranong Bye
ACT Premier Fourth Grade:
- Gungahlin 24 bt Goulburn 5
- Royals 43 bt Wests 19
- Queanbeyan 43 bt Uni-Norths 7
- Tuggeranong bye
Women’s 10s
- ADFA 32 bt Goulburn 10
- Cooma 48 bt Goulburn 15
- Jindabyne 81 bt Easts 0
- Yass 25 bt Batemans Bay 15
- Cooma 24 bt Uni-Norths 19
- Bungendore 27 bt Yass 0
- Jindabyne 53 bt Batemans Bay 0
- ADFA 64 bt Hall 5
- Bungendore 49 bt Uni-Norths 5
- Yass 28 bt Royals 0 (forfeit)
- Bungendore bt Royals 0 (forfeit)
Tables:
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