Main photo: Pete Oliver

Happy Birthday!!! The Goulburn Rugby Club turned 151 yesterday, 22 July 2023. Not as much fanfare as the 150th but still worth recognising. But back to the footy. The Dirty Reds first grade side were the club’s sole winners on a tough weekend on the road. The Reserve grade side came up against a side that was better stacked than the shelves at Woolies on a Thursday night, containing three Wallabies and some other higher grade players so the result was a forgone conclusion before they set foot on Queanbeyan soil, and the Women’s side lost to an ADFA team that continues to improve as the season rolls on.

Let’s have a look back at the weekend.

Seniors

First grade: Hidden in the hoopla of Queanbeyan’s great fund-raising Win The Day for Kids’ Cancer, was this nugget of a game between Goulburn first grade and Queanbeyan.  Despite being in second last spot on the table, Queanbeyan provided great opposition to Goulburn, answering back after almost every try. Eight minutes in, Ben Todkill scored Goulburn’s first try, bringing up his 350th club point in so doing, which Mikael Webber converted (spoiler alert, Webber kicked 6 from 6). Queanbeyan replied five minutes later through the hands of former Dirty Red, Eirene Apineru… so we should be able to count that towards our points… hang on, just checked … we can’t. Never mind. Goulburn quickly bounced back with ties to Eric Brown and Michael Cooke for a 21-7 lead but Queanbeyan snuck one in just on half-time for a 21-14 scoreline.

Ten minutes into the second half, Cooke scored his second try, but Queanbeyan scored twice in the next seven minutes and what had appeared to be turning into a comfortable win for Goulburn was now reduced to just a 28-26 Goulburn lead. The next 18 minutes is probably the bit the coaches and players can be most pleased with. At this pressure point, Goulburn’s defence tightened and they re-seized the momentum with skipper Alec Palmer adding a try and Eric Brown his second. It was a six-tries-to four win in the end… not by any means a whitewash but strong indications of Goulburn’s ability to hold their nerve in tight situations. Will Mooney received 3 best and fairest points and Eric Brown, who brought up 100 first grade points, was named Players Player.

Second grade: On the back of a win last weekend, Goulburn could have hoped for a wooden-spoon avoiding win against Queanbeyan 4th grade, whom they beat 17-12 in their previous encounter. Instead, the Whites had the biggest come back since Lazarus and pumped Goulburn by 61-7. For those who’ve shown up late, this week Queanbeyan held a charity weekend for Win the Day, raising money for Kids Cancer (and there can’t be many more deserving charities than that). Three former Wallabies, Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell, were kind enough to briefly come out of retirement and offer their services and so they and a few other higher grade players were slotted into Queanbeyan 4th grade to play our lowly placed reserve grade side.

The result was an 11-1 caning, Goulburn’s biggest loss in this grade (and against one of two sides they were able to beat this year). Huge congrats to our Dirty Twos whose attitude across the paddock was never give up or slack off, and to some of the former Dirty Reds who answered the call as we struggle for numbers at the business end of the season. And while you probably shouldn’t single any player out from such a genuine team effort, Jack White continues to be an exciting talent to watch even in the exalted company he found himself in. White scored 3 best and fairest points and Players Player.

Actually, you know what… I will offer a bit of editorial comment on this. You are a complete jerk if you can’t appreciate the good intentions and fine work done on the day for this crucial cause. I totally agree. But I also feel for our Dirty Twos. I’ve seen their efforts all year and even amidst a bunch of blowouts, they don’t give up and there have been many exceptional efforts and many talented players unearthed and on the rise. Sadly, despite some near misses, they’ve only had two wins and are on the bottom of the table. They can’t make the finals but I like the idea that every game is worth playing on its own merits. Queanbeyan in this grade most weekends is a team Goulburn has a shot at, and it would have been nice to see that play out. I get the motives and fine work behind what Queanbeyan were doing here, but fairness would have placed these Wallabies in a grade more aligned to their abilities, and just saying “Neither side can make the semis”, or “it’s only 4th grade” or “it’s only Goulburn” kinda sucks, even if we were fine with it. Again, just my thoughts and probably unpopular. Call me the Grinch, call me the Grouch, just don’t call me late for dinner. Send all hate mail to the usual address.

Women’s 10s: This game had a few twists and turns but was a very commanding display by the ever-improving ADFA side. Historically, ADFA is a side Goulburn had won it’s first six games against. Earlier this year, ADFA broke that streak with their first win of the season in round six – a tight as a jam jar 20-19 win over Goulburn. Since then ADFA have made every post a winner and are emerging as one of three outstanding chances for the title alongside second placed Goulburn and competition leading Uni-Norths.

Goulburn was first on the board when Chloe Waddell crossed to score her 101st point for the season, which was converted by skipper Ash Mewburn. But then ADFA piled on the points. They scored six tries (five of those converted) before Goulburn got on the board again when Waddell scored a second. ADFA replied with their seventh, before Jordan Brooker added Goulburn’s third try, all three converted by Ash Mewburn. This was a good reminder for Goulburn of what’s happening at the top end of town and will provide some areas to address for the coaches before next weekend’s final home game of the season. Jordan Brooker received 3 Best and Fairest points and Mel Smith was named Players Player.

• Men’s 1st grade: Goulburn 42 bt Queanbeyan 26
• Men’s 2nd grade: Queanbeyan 61 bt Goulburn 7
• Women’s 10s: ADFA 45 bt Goulburn 21

Around the Grounds:

ACT Women’s 10s:

• ADFA 45 bt Goulburn 21
• Royals 80 bt Yass 0
• Jindabyne 34 bt Hall 7
• Uni-Norths 17 bt Bungendore 12

ACT 1st Division 1st Grade:

• Goulburn 42 bt Queanbeyan 26
• Tuggeranong 54 bt Royals 5
• Uni-Norths 40 bt Wests 0
• Gungahlin BYE

ACT 1st Division 2nd grade:

• Queanbeyan 61 bt Goulburn 7
• Royals 27 bt Tuggeranong 7
• Uni-Norths 28 bt Wests 0 (forfeit)
• Gungahlin BYE

Tables:

Check your stats

• 1st Grade stats
• 2nd grade stats
• Women’s stats
• Club stats

Next Round

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