Recap

Strong finish in dour encounter

It was dark, grey, dour and uncomfortable and the weather wasn’t much better when the Dirty Reds beat Easts/RMC 43 to 27 at Canberra on Saturday.

The Reds appeared to have their opponents’ measure for much of the match but were unable to stamp their dominance until late in the second stanza.

In the post-match wrap up, first grade captain Jordan Wilcox, in his 100th game for the club,  asked his team to focus on the second half of the second half where they played the way they train, and that’s where the game was won.

Goulburn’s assignment wasn’t helped by a slate of injuries in the opening minutes. Hooker Brad Muddiman, scrum half Jackson Reardon and second row Monty Hicks all needed to be replaced early in the first half and it took a while for Goulburn to settle.

While Goulburn’s overall defence was solid, missed tackles at key moments supplied Easts RMC with their three first half tries but Goulburn didn’t leave that unanswered and took a 17-15 lead to the break.

The match remained in the balance throughout, waiting for either side to seize the momentum.

Midway through the second half, with the Reds down by three, a burst of energy and renewed focus buoyed the Reds and resulted in a hat-trick of tries which sealed the match.

Jayden Hunt was in barnstorming form and was awarded both the players player award and three best and fairest points. Brad Clements was awarded two best and fairest points and Abram Kara, who came on for the injured Jackson Reardon notched up two tries and one best and fairest point.

Goulburn 43 (Abram Kara 2, Mik Webber, Michael Cudaj, Matt Spratley, Mark Kaimoana tries, M Webber 5 conversions, 1 penalty goal) bt Easts RMC 27.