Recap

Wests can’t beat Fortress Poidevin hoodoo

The Dirty Reds opened season 2019 with a comprehensive win against Wests in first grade, a close loss in seconds and two wins for the new Women’s team in their inaugural 10s hit out.

In a promising start to the season and in contrast to the last few years, the Reds had ample playing numbers for both men’s sides and reserves to spare in the Women’s side as well.

The squads were split across two grounds with the women playing two matches of 10s at Bungendore and the men playing two grades on a waterlogged Poidevin Oval.

In the three years Goulburn had been in the merged ACT/Monaro first division, Goulburn had met Wests three times for two wins, both of those at Poidevin Oval and both by lopsided scores (67-0 and 72-3 respectively).

This year would not be the year for Wests Lions to break their first grade Goulburn hoodoo.

Notching up a first half lead of 24-14 consisting of four tries and two conversions, the Reds accelerated into the second half with six more unanswered tries.

Goulburn marched the Wests scrum each time they packed and the Lions were also dominated in the lineout.

Dirty Reds debutantes Alec Palmer and Ben Cheetham were among the try scorers with Matt Spratley scoring a personal trifecta.

Boyd Newby led the team onto the paddock in recognition of his 200^th first grade game – only the second player to achieve that milestone since 1990. The double centurion has played a total of 241 games across both grades and was also allowed a conversion attempt (which the record books will record simply as an attempt).

Best and fairest players for Goulburn were Ben Cheetham (3), Brad Clements (2), Matt Spratley (1) and Alec Palmer (1). Player’s Player was Boyd Newby.

Goulburn 56 (Matt Spratley 3, Brad Muddiman, Ben Cheetham, Brad Clements, Jordan Wilcox, Mik Webber, Alec Palmer, Simon Graves tries, Webber 3 conversions) bt Wests 14.

Next weekend Goulburn takes on the Tuggeranong Vikings who had a win against Gungahlin in first grade and one of the only nil-all draw’s in living memory in second grade.