Recap

Goulburn into the grand final after besting ADFA in a nail-biter

By CHRIS GORDON

The Goulburn Worker’s Club Dirty Reds Men’s side have fought through to the ACT first division grand final after a heart-stopping come-from-behind 33-27 win against ADFA.

With ten minutes left in the match, ADFA regained a lead of just a slender point and were eyeing off the remaining vacant grand final spot. Ten minutes became nine, then eight, then seven… the match and the season were starting to slip away from the Dirty Reds.

Then, with four minutes remaining, following a lineout deep in ADFA’s quarter, Goulburn positioned themselves 25 metres out in broken play. Receiving the ball, lock Ben Cheetham, who’d been one of Goulburn’s most potent line breakers all day, spotted a gap and darted through it for the match-winning try which, when converted, gave Goulburn a six- point lead.

In the final three minutes, ADFA still had every chance of winning and tested the Reds, but the Goulburn men held resolutely to secure the grand final berth.

In shades of the 2016 Dirty Reds, the Reds have had to scrap their way through knockout match after knockout in the final weeks of the semis, but have gained confidence and intensity with every win.

This match was a very different proposition to last week’s win over Queanbeyan. There, while Queanbeyan had the bigger pack, Goulburn had the edge in the backs and loose forwards. Here, ADFA were fit and mobile across the paddock.

Whenever they got close to Goulburn’s line, ADFA were virtual doppelgangers for the Dirty Reds. Just like Goulburn they were slick, committed and almost impossible to stop. In a mighty arm wrestle, the two sides had scored two tries a piece in the first half, with only an ADFA penalty goal separating them.

But as with many games this season, the Dirty Reds found another gear in the second half. Flicking the intensity switch to 11, the Reds clawed their way back in front, lost the lead again, and then fought back for the win.

The see-sawing score went like this. From holding the 15-12 lead at the break, ADFA scored first in the second half increasing their lead to 22-12. Two Goulburn tries followed which put the Reds in front by 26-22. ADFA edged back in front with an unconverted try 10 minutes from the end to lead 27-26 before Goulburn’s final try secured the win.

The score possibly flattered ADFA slightly with two of their tries coming against the run of play – one from an intercept runaway try and another from a charge down of a clearing kick gone wrong – but then again you have to put yourself into a position to take advantage of opportunities like that, and you have to execute your response perfectly. And ADFA did just that.

This win makes two weeks in a row where Goulburn has reversed the result of their previous encounter with their opponent. Both Queanbeyan and ADFA had beaten the Reds in their last matches before the semis. Goulburn’s opponent in the grand final, Gungahlin, also beat the Reds in their last meeting and the Reds will be looking to continue the trend.

At the completion of the game, Coach Ben Pearson told the side they had a lot to be proud of in that result, but added that their job wasn’t finished and they still had their biggest challenge ahead of them.

The grand final is scheduled tentatively for 11.25 next Saturday at Viking Park, Erindale. All Goulburn supporters are urged to clear their schedules and find a way to the ground to support the Reds.

Goulburn 33 (Boyd Newby, Aidan Greaves, Ben Cheetham, Jordan Wilcox, Jordan Lees tries, Mik Webber 4 conversions) bt ADFA 27.

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