Recap

Goulburn women gallant in semi-final of first season of XVs

If there was a game that summed up 2020 for the Goulburn Dirty Reds women, it was Saturday’s semi-final loss against Uni Norths.

Effort – tick

Heart – tick

Enthusiasm – tick

Execution – not quite a tick.

It feels like a copy and paste from previous matches. The Reds would hold long periods of dominance, building pressure until a mistake or turn over would release the valve and the Owls would make them pay. The home side’s first three incursions into the Reds’ 22 yielded points, and blew any momentum away that Goulburn was trying to build.

Paige Penning was outstanding for the Reds. The bloodied and battered skipper led from the front with a number of trademark runs, and even managed to pilfer the ball on more than one occasion.

For a team making the enormous step up from the development 10s competition into the Premier Division, they showed they were no easy beats. Each week the side improved as they gelled and learned, taking on the ACT’s best each week.

Coaches Ash Mewburn and Rob Sheekey should be proud of both the team, and their own efforts in imparting their knowledge.

If the squad can stay together next season and beyond, they are a genuine chance of shaking up the ACT competition. The team should be in no doubt of their abilities, and with some more match experience under their belt, they’ll be a force to come for years.

Uni Norths Owls 43 def Goulburn Dirty Reds Women 0.

Photos: PETE OLIVER.

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