Recap

Eagles swoop on Dirty Reds

By CHRIS GORDON

The Goulburn Workers Club Dirty Reds found themselves on the losing side of the scorecard for only the second time this season when they were beaten 36-19 by the Gunghahlin Eagles at Nicholls Enclosed Oval on Saturday.

It was a top of the table clash although the number one team had changed mid-week.

While the Reds have led all year, Gungahlin played postponed matches during the week and had overtaken the Reds into top spot since last weekend. And it didn’t take long to see that their competition lead was well earned.

From the outset the Eagles were pumped and committed. As had been the case in the preceding reserve grade game, the Gungahlin scrum was a forced to be reckoned with.

On pack weight alone, Gungahlin had it over Goulburn and frequently marched the Reds. On the back foot, Goulburn was forced into conceding penalties – a position Goulburn had been on the other side of against many teams this year.

At half time Goulburn trailed by 24-5 with Jordan Lees Goulburn’s try-scorer.

In the second half, the Reds responded and lifted but the Eagles remained a determined adversary. Each side scored two tries in the second half, Goulburn’s to Ben Todkill and Chris Boardman, and while the Reds finished strongly the Eagles’ first half onslaught proved too much to claw back.

Coach Ben Pearson, in his post-match debrief to the team, focused on the need to work on the scrum.

“The weight of possession, the weight of the number of penalties coming from that area… we can’t combat that if we don’t get our scrum right,” he said.

“In the second half, well done. We outpointed them. We were taking ball off them in the lineouts. There was a lot of good work but we need to be secure in our set pieces.”

The dozen first grade games this year can almost be split into two distinct sections – the first six rounds where the side’s composure, confidence and routines were consistent and dominant; and the next six rounds which contained their two losses and wins that were all sizeable but patchy.

Goulburn has hit most of the higher placed teams in that second six rounds and have now had a good look at their toughest opponents. The Reds have the opportunity to put their stamp back on the game next weekend on their Sponsors Day at Poidevin Oval when they take on Uni Norths.

The match against Gungahlin marked the 250^th game for club veteran Boyd Newby. Newby, a former coach and long-time captain, skippered the side to grand final wins in 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He played his first game for the club in 2004, initially as a centre, before making the number four jumper his own in a career that has amassed 222 points including 44 tries and one conversion.

Best and fairest points went to captain Jordan Wilcox (3), Ben Cheetham (2), Jackson Reardon (1) and Jordan Lees (1). Wilcox was also voted players player.

Gungahlin 36 bt Goulburn 19 (Jordan Lees, Ben Todkill, Chris Boardman tries, Mik Webber 2 conversions).