Recap

Reds valiant in narrow grand final defeat

By CHRIS GORDON

Seven points. Seven points at half time, seven points at full time.

There was just a converted try in it, but that proved to be enough to give the Gungahlin Eagles the ACT first division first grade premiership with a 28-21 win over the Goulburn Workers Club Dirty Reds on Saturday.

It was a gutsy and very competitive performance from the already injury ravaged Reds, who lost yet another two players during the week – one rubbed out for receiving his third yellow card of the season last weekend, another with chicken pox.

Brandon Courts, who’d qualified to play earlier in the year before he left town, flew into Canberra just to be a spectator but found himself conscripted onto the bench.

But even with a few more setbacks, and to be fair all sides have adversities to overcome, the Reds rose to the challenge and made the Eagles work hard for a nerve-wracking win.

Gungahlin has proven to be Goulburn’s toughest opponent this season. The minor premiers beat Goulburn twice on the road to the grand final, but the Reds have continued to close the gap.

When they first met back in June, the Eagles beat Goulburn six tries to three based around their almost indomitable scrum. In the Qualifying Final, Gungahlin’s win was just four tries to three. Their scrum still had an edge over the Reds but coach Ben Pearson had given the side a game plan to work around it.

In the first two scrums of this grand final, there was an element of deja vu with Gungahlin dominating the scrum, but on the third scrum… ten metres out from the Goulburn line and looking for a push over try, the Goulburn pack held firm. And then again. Gungahlin still had the edge in the scrum, but just an edge, and Goulburn was competing strongly.

Gungahlin soon realised they couldn’t rely solely on their scrum, but just as Goulburn had lifted in that area, Gungahlin had improved at the breakdown where Goulburn had previously held the edge.

What followed was a thumping defensive display by both teams where yards were hard to purchase and momentum hard to seize.

After more than twenty scoreless minutes, Gungahlin were first on the board. In the next 15 minutes they scored again but Mik Webber crossed for Goulburn giving the Reds a seven-point deficit at the break.

Back onto the paddock, and the intensity picked up where it left off. Each side would spend phase after phase on their opponents’ line to be turned away by committed defense.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, Gungahlin extended their lead to 21-7 and the game was starting to look out of Goulburn’s reach, but a second try to Webber with 13 minutes remaining brought the Reds right back into the match.

It was now beginning to look like the trademark second-half performance that the Reds had employed so often in 2019. Coming home on a wet sail, if they could score next, momentum and the match was theirs.

But with six minutes remaining, the Eagles shattered the come-from-behind fairytale to open up an insurmountable 14 point break.

Scrapping until the last, Goulburn didn’t give up and famed crocodile hunter, Alec Palmer crossed for a try which he converted, but it was bang on full time and the premiership was Gungahlin’s.

Gungahlin had been the form team of the competition and were worthy winners on the day.

In his post-match speech, the Eagles captain-coach praised Goulburn for making them work so hard for the premiership. For some of the Gungahlin players, and quite a few of the Reds, it was a rematch for the 2016 grand final that Goulburn won by 18-17.

Despite the result, it was a hell of game. Huge efforts across the field, terrific preparation and game plan by Ben Pearson and the coaching staff, and a large and vocal contingent of fans on deck who’d travelled up from Goulburn.

In speaking with the team after the game, Pearson reassured the players that they should be proud of the effort they put in for the grand final and across the year.

Next weekend the Goulburn women’s team will take on Gungahlin in their grand final at Crookwell. All players and supporters are urged to take the trip and ensure their undefeated season remains that way.

Gungahlin 28 (Toby Afflick, Benjamin Stewart, Kane Broadrick, Matthew Power tries, Thomas Scott 4 conversions) bt Goulburn 21 (Mik Webber 2, Alec Palmer tries, Mik Webber 2, Alec Palmer conversions).

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