A big weekend for Goulburn Rugby. The Fizzy Reds competition started and the Women’s team claimed outright lead of the ACT Women’s 10s competition. Not great news for the men’s teams that both lost to Uni-Norths at ANU Oval, but they’ll pick themselves up for next weekend’s home matches.

Juniors

The Fizzy Reds competition got underway on Friday and we are mad keen to see in photos you may have taken and share any match reports or details you may have written. In the mean time, thanks to Ben and Sarah Green forr contributing this story and pics from the U12s trip to Cowra for their Gala Day.

• Goulburn U12 rugby juniors travel to Cowra for Gala Day

Seniors

Click on hyperlinks for score sheets, photos and further details

Women’s 10s: Thank God for the Women. They were not only the sole winners for Goulburn on the weekend but remain undefeated this season, and claimed the outright lead of the ACT Women’s 10s competition with their 45-21 win over Hall. After establishing an early lead, Hall did a good job of fighting back and narrowing the gap, but Goulburn found another gear to put the result beyond doubt.

Dirty Reds’ 2023 leading try-scorer Chloe Waddell added another three, Paige “Lomu” Cotterill, in her debut on the wing, snagged a couple, scrum half Jordan Brooker scored a try and Ash Mewburn bagged a try and five conversions. Waddell picked up both the Players Player award and three best and fairest points.

First grade: After leading for all but one minute of the second half, the Dirty Reds first grade side succumbed to the weight of penalties to be beaten 17-14 by the Owls right on full time for their first loss of the year. Trailing by 7-10 at the break with a Josh Metz try and Mikael Webber conversion to their tally, the Reds gained the lead one minute into the second half with a Dallas Brown/Webber converted try and held that lead right through the entire second half until the very last minute. Frustrated by repeat infringements and a lot of back chat, the referee made use of the yellow card three times in the second half, the first to Owls and then two to Goulburn.

First grade coach John Maxwell emphasised the need for better exits and taking play upfield in his half-time comments, and while this improved in the second half it was largely overshadowed by the often self-inflicted heavy penalty count against Goulburn. The loss by less than 7 was still worth a bonus point, so there’s that, and the match provided a handy snapshot of areas that need to be worked on. Dallas Brown earned 3 best and fairest points while skipper Alec Palmer was named players’ Player.

Second grade: In a scrappy match neither side will be pasting in their scrapbooks, the Uni-North Owls got the better of the Goulburn Dirty Twos by 26-0. Ball handling was not the friend of either side in the first half and while Uni-Norths had two tries up on Goulburn by the 25th minute, neither came on the back of dominance or built phases. The third try, however, showed more structure and ball control for the Owls. Goulburn’s defence improved in the second half, only allowing one more try, but their attack still struggled. Given three non-contest scrum feeds in Uni-Norths quarter, they should probably have converted at least one of those opportunities into points.

There was no shortage of effort and heart by the Dirty Twos. As usual, there were some outstanding efforts in attack, and committed defence especially in the second half but, as well as the team’s usual second half improvement. Also, Goulburn has now played three of the top four teams in this grade. But, as is true for second grade every year, it’s hard to pull off a win with guys you haven’t trained with and whose names you don’t know. Commitment to the team will decide what happens next for the Dirty Twos.

• Women’s 10s: Goulburn 45 bt Hall 21
• Men’s 1st grade: Uni-Norths 17 bt Goulburn 14
• Men’s 2nd grade: Uni-Norths 26 bt Goulburn 0

Around the Grounds:

ACT 1st Division 1st grade:

• Uni-Norths 17 bt Goulburn 14
• Wests 52 bt Royals 12
• Gungahlin 50 bt Queanbeyan 19
• Tuggeranong BYE

ACT 1st Division 2nd grade:

• Uni-Norths 26 bt Goulburn 0
• Royals 25 bt Wests 22
• Queanbeyan 12 bt Gungahlin 10
• Tuggeranong BYE

ACT Women’s 10s:

• Goulburn 45 bt Hall 21
• Jindabyne 27 bt Uni-Norths 15
• Yass 24 bt ADFA 17
• Bungensore 15 bt Ro

Tables:

Check your stats

• 1st Grade stats
• 2nd grade stats
• Women’s stats
• Club stats

Next Round

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