Recap

As far as gutsy wins go, it wouldn’t get much gutsier than this.

The Goulburn Dirty Reds Women have pulled off a determined 35-10 victory over the Jindabyne Miss Piggies. A three-hour drive, playing with no subs, and at times a player short, the Goulburn team showed incredible dedication and effort to record their fifth straight bonus point win of the season. It was pure effort and heart, with all ten Goulburn players playing for each other. 

The Miss Piggies were pumped to be playing in front of a big crowd, as former players and supporters descended on the JJ Connors Oval as part of the Jindabyne 40^th reunion festivities.

What they witnessed was a brutal, physical match. Both sides dished out plenty of hurt, with prop Sariah Mita steamrolling one Jindabyne player in a particular highlight that’s bound to go viral on TikTok.

Hooker Grace Cummins went off early with a knee injury, and after a few words of encouragement from club stalwart Kevin Kara (and a bit of tape), she gritted her teeth and went back out into the fray, having yet another cracking match. Halfback Jordan Brooker, in a player of the match performance, played through rib pain to keep the Jindy defence on their heels, and their attackers flat on their back after she crunched them.

Jindabyne were the first to score, taking advantage of the one player overlap and some soft shoulders to cross for a 5-0 lead. It was the last time the home side would be on the right side of the scoreboard.

The Reds could have rolled over, but instead hit back almost instantly. Jasmine Bes took the ball inside her own 22m, threw a monster dummy, and ghosted through the yawning gap. The fullback streaked away to score a superb individual try to gain the lead for Goulburn.

This was extended shortly after, when Brooker showed tremendous athleticism to intercept a Jindabyne pass, with Melissa Smith running 60m to score from the subsequent ruck, for Goulburn to take a 14-5 lead into the break.

Bes picked up where she left off, running onto a cut out pass from flyhalf Ash Mewburn and crossing for her second try, before Brooker scored a very well-deserved try to extend the visitors’ lead to 28-5.

The Reds’ final try came from another long range effort, after Brooker stole the ball at the ruck and offloaded to Smith, who ran 55m to score.

Captain coach Mewburn had her finest game of the season, controlling the tempo of the game magnificently. Mewburn drew upon her vast experience to dictate terms, and even had a stint in the front row at scrum time. She was also flawless with the boot, with her five from five this week adding to her ten from ten conversions last match.

Debutant Leslie Castledine, who overcame a shoulder injury which delayed her debut by several weeks, got amongst it early. The prop ran strongly, bending the Jindy defence each time, and was a rock in the scrum.

Joey Wood continues to improve each week, and more than one Jindy defender regretted running at her. The second rower was again a tackling machine out there, mixing it up with some assertive runs in attack. Her fellow second rower Smith has had a standout season far, and this continued on Saturday. The deceptively quick lock scored two runaway tries, and when she wasn’t smashing Jindy players in defence, was busy bossing the line out.

Bes, in a two try effort, continues to show why she is one of Goulburn Rugby’s brightest young prospects. Playing with a maturity that belies her age, Bes was a constant threat every time she got the ball, showing a clean pair of heels for her first try, and plenty of determination for her second.

One player who has really shown her worth this season is Ash Deaton, a genuine utility player who can play in the forwards and back. Deaton again had a strong game at centre, opening up the Jindabyne defence and combining superbly with Mewburn. Where possible, they unleashed winger Liv Minikin, who only needs half a gap to accelerate away. Minikin is another newcomer who just gets better each week, both with and without the ball, and it’s exciting to see how she’ll fare by the season’s end.

Brooker collected the three Best and Fairest points, along with joint-Players’ Player, which she shared with Smith. Two points went to Mewburn, and one to Smith, along with joint-Players’ Player.

A big thank you to special guest referee Sam Norton-Knight for stepping in and officiating the game.

Goulburn will return to Poidevin Oval this weekend, when they host ADFA at 1.30pm.

Goulburn 35 (Bes 2, Smith 2, Brooker tries, Mewburn 5 con) defeated Jindabyne Miss Piggies 10 (Lily Godding, Blyss Burke tries).

Best and Fairest Points

3 – Jordan Brooker
2 – Ashley Mewburn
1 – Melissa Smith

Players’

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Melissa Smith & Jordan Brooker