It was a tough day at the office for the Dirty Reds this weekend, not only losing all three games but on Sponsors Day. Still, the weather was nice, Rugby was played, Nick Tabner played his 100th game for the club and we got to thank our Sponsors for making it possible to play the game. All three senior grades will have a week off due to the Brumbies Provincial weekend at Poidevin Oval next weekend, although many Goulburn Players will feature in those rep matches.

Let’s have a look at the weekend.

Seniors

Click on hyperlinks for score sheets, photos and further details. 

Women’s 10s: Well, that was frustrating. The Goulburn Women’s side was leading with 1 minute on the clock only to be beaten 31-30 by Hall. Having said that, in a seesawing match, Hall led for more of the match than Goulburn. With regular skipper and goal kicker Ashley Mewburn away, the team’s assignment was already a little more difficult and was only made tougher by the late arrival of two dual-code players getting back after a game of league. As a result, Goulburn’s backline closely resembled their scrum with several players out of position. Nonetheless, after trailing 14-5 at one point, Goulburn gained the slim 15-14 lead at the break. 

Goulburn extended the lead early in the second half but were still tentative at the break down and in attack. Hall soon took the lead back, then Goulburn regained it and then Hall grabbed it back at the end. It was a great effort by both sides and a well-deserved win to Hall. The Goulburn women, like the first-grade men, still have the highest for and against points differential in their competition and are well placed on the table, but they will want to arrest their recent run of losses and regain their early competition dominance.  Jasmine Bes, who scored three tries, picked up 3 best and fairest points and was named Players Player.

First grade: Anxious and rushed. Those two words go along way to explaining Goulburn first grade’s 25-12 loss to Uni Norths. The Owls led by 8-7 at the break with one try each, a conversion to Goulburn and a penalty goal to Uni Norths. Uni-Norths tactic to take the points whenever they were on offer was evident 4 minutes into their second half, perhaps indicating their awareness that points would be hard to come by and putting Goulburn off-kilter by making them trail. Whether it worked or not, Goulburn did seem anxious and rushed, looking for quick point scoring solutions rather than building momentum patiently.

Strong defence by both sides did make scoring difficult, but the Owls in the 59th and 61st minute to set up a 25-7 lead. Dallas Brown crossed for Goulburn five minutes later to reduce the gap but still trailing by 13 points and with only 3 minutes remaining, a win was out of reach for Goulburn.  Eric Brown picked up 3 best and fairest points for Goulburn and Dallas Brown picked up Players Player.

Second grade: The Goulburn Dirty Twos were just up against a better side when they were beaten 47-5 by Uni-Norths Owls. The Owls ran in five first half tries before Goulburn could get on the board. Goulburn rallied in the second half and only allowed Uni-Norths two more tries, while scoring one of their own through Josh Condylios. The big score losses are particularly frustrating for the Dirty Twos because the effort is there, and you can see some great individual performances, but the cohesion just isn’t there yet. But they don’t give up, and that effort plus their desire to win and their so-far unrealised potential will hopefully be rewarded with some well-deserved wins soon. Jack White earned three best and fairest points and was named Players Player.

• Women’s 10s: Hall 31 bt Goulburn 30
• Men’s 1st grade: Uni-Norths 25 bt Goulburn 12
• Men’s 2nd grade: Uni-Norths 47 bt Goulburn 5

Around the Grounds:

ACT 1st Division 1st grade:

• Uni-Norths 25 bt Goulburn 12
• Tuggeranong 36 bt Gungahlin 17
• Royals 26 bt Wests 5
• Queanbeyan BYE

ACT 1st Division 2nd grade:

• Uni-Norths 47  bt Goulburn 5
• Royals 84 bt Wests 7
• Gungahlin 26 bt Tuggeranong 7
• Queanbeyan BYE

ACT Women’s 10s:

• Hall 31 bt Goulburn 30
• ADFA 41 bt Bungendore 17
• Jindabyne 45 bt Royals 15
• Uni-Norths 30 bt Yass 17

Tables:

Check your stats

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

Next Round

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