Recap

Tenacious Dirty Reds comeback seals win against Royals

By CHRIS GORDON

With five minutes left on the clock and having trailed all game, first-grade competition leaders the Goulburn Dirty Reds showed a ton of tenacity and a bucketload of resolve to come from behind and beat Royals in a gutsy but patient 15-12 top-of-the-table victory.

Despite a number of Goulburn players backing up from reserve grade due to the club’s growing injury toll, and despite playing all of the second half a man down, the Reds dug deep and found the internal resources they needed to beat the team coming second on the ladder.

Expected to be one of the toughest matches of the year, the match was played at a frenetic pace from the outset and for half of the first half neither side could break through their opponent’s defence.

Goulburn had by far the better scrum but overall Royals had the best of the first half, making good use of a long kicking game, holding the territorial advantage and scoring two tries along the way.

It was 27 minutes before Goulburn finally troubled the scorers with a Josh Condylios try that reduced the gap to 12-5, but just on half-time the Reds chances were dealt a blow with hooker Tim Moule shown a red card, finishing his role in the match for the day.

Seven minutes into the second half, with Goulburn applying pressure on the Royals line, Jarrod Thompson crossed for Goulburn, finishing on leadup work by Jacob Kara, and further reduced the gap to 12 -10, but still Royals held on to the lead.

Even with their hooker on the sideline, Goulburn maintained their dominance in the scrum, but Royals were still standing firm in defence.

Struggling to break through the Royals line, Goulburn took advantage of penalties awarded within kicking distance and gave the ball to Mik Webber. Webber chanced two attempts at penalty goals from out wide (one of which hit the upright) in the final 10 minutes but neither were successful.

Both sides attacked tenaciously. Both sides defended grimly.

Inevitably, in such a crucial match between two of the best teams in the competition, tempers will flare. The referees and touch judges kept a pretty good lid on this but as the half progressed and with a nerve-wrackingly close score, a Royals player was also shown a red card.

Still trailing by two, the clock was running down but when an opportunity finally presented itself, Goulburn took it with both hands.

Five minutes from full time, Josh Condylios crossed out wide for his second try to finally put Goulburn ahead for the first time in the game.

Royals never gave up and were always a danger of seizing back the lead, but Goulburn defended doggedly and held on for the win.

This match was a great opportunity for the side to deal with adversity, forcing Goulburn to maintain their intensity while remaining patient and composed.

The potent Royals side will know just how close they came to winning and have every right to feel this was the one that got away. Royals started the stronger, but the Dirty Reds kept them scoreless in the second section, scored all of the second-half points, and were stronger where and when it counted.

Both sides were probably guilty of giving vent to their passion at times, but aside from the occasional flare-ups this was a good, hard game of well-executed rugby.

Best and fairest for Goulburn were Oscar Cunningham (3), Will Mooney (2), Jacob Kara (1) with Kara also named Players’ Player.

Next weekend, for the final match of the home and away season, Goulburn is back on the road in first and second grade playing the Queanbeyan Whites at Campese Field / Taylor Park.

Dramatic results in other first grade games mean that Goulburn has not yet secured the minor premiership and will most likely need to win against the Whites to hold the top spot going into the semis.

Goulburn 15 (Josh Condylios 2, Jarrod Thompson tries) bt Royals 12 (Michael Andrew-Copsy, Benjamin Hockin tries, Josh Barber conversion).

By the clock:

• 17 mins – Royals try (0-5)
• 25 mins – Royals converted try (0-12)
• 27 mins – Josh Condylios try (5-12)
• HALF TIME
• 42 mins – Jarrod Thompson try
• 65 mins – Josh Condylios try 

Photos: Chris Gordon