Recap

Reds through to top-two shootout

Despite losing to the Queanbeyan Whites after the bell at Campese Field on Saturday, the Goulburn Workers Club Dirty Reds have retained second spot on the competition ladder and are through to the Qualifying Final of first grade in ACT First Division.

Having just drawn level 19-19 with Queanbeyan as the shot clock ran out, Queanbeyan restarted with a kick and from there, worked their way across the line.

Before the game started, first spot and the minor premiership was out of reach for Goulburn but second spot was still very much up for grabs, and still very valuable, as the top two teams get a second bite of the cherry should they lose in the first weekend of playoffs.

If Goulburn had lost AND Royals managed to beat Gungahlin (a match that was played simultaneously at Phillip Oval), then the Reds would have been consigned to third spot and a sudden death semi.

As it turned out, Gunghalin beat Royals 39-7 and Goulburn’s goal of a top two spot was realised, but not the way they wanted.

Queanbeyan came into the game in sixth spot, safe in the knowledge they would be through to the six-team semis regardless of the result. They had nothing to lose and played that way.

There was a lethargy and, for want of a better word, a lack of mongrel from Goulburn in the first half.

Having said that, there were some pretty good reasons. Injuries have hit the club hard in the last few weeks, particularly in the pack, more particularly in the front row.

That lack of numbers caused most first grade players to back up after also playing the reserve grade game – their final outing of the season –and coach Ben Pearson had virtually no time to work with the squad before they took the field.

So it’s probably no shock that in terms of fresh legs and preparation, Queanbeyan had the edge from the outset which helped propel them to a 12-5 half-time lead.

Goulburn were sharp and productive in the line-outs but the depleted scrum found the going tough. Pearson also pointed out at the break that Queanbeyan were winning at the contest and that the Reds had to compete better at the contact and lift, and it’s a credit that they did.

Reducing the deficit and outscoring Queanbeyan in the second half were as much efforts of mental toughness as physical.

You could argue the toss about whether Queanbeyan should have been allowed to restart after time had run out when Goulburn converted their try to level scores, but Queanbeyan had led for the bulk of the match, and even then dug deep in those final minutes to snatch a win which was well deserved.

In the last two rounds of rugby, the Dirty Reds looked in charge and confident and in the form that saw them lead the comp for much of the year.  In this match, that wasn’t quite the case, but the Reds did an awful lot to dig themselves out of a hole in the second half. No doubt this week’s training will focus on ways to avoid the hole.

Next Saturday, the Dirty Reds will play Gungahlin in the first grade Qualifying Final at Nicholls Enclosed Oval, with the winner progressing to another second-bite match the following week, and the loser moving on to a knockout semi-final.

Best and fairest points went to Mik Webber (3), Brad Clements (2) and Jordan Wilcox (1) and Webber was also voted Players Player.

Queanbeyan 24 bt Goulburn 19 (Mik Webber, Ben Cheetham tries, Penalty try and Mik Webber 1 conversion).

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