Recap

Dirty Reds still in the hunt after close loss to minor premiers

By CHRIS GORDON

The Goulburn Workers Club Dirty Reds remain in the hunt for the first grade premierships of ACT first division, despite a 24-19 loss to the Gungahlin Eagles.

The dominant Gungahlin scrum proved to be as prodigious as expected, as it had been in the last encounter between the sides, but it didn’t give the Eagles the overall dominance they were counting on as Goulburn scrapped and fought for possession in all other areas of the game.

The Dirty Reds were swift and clinical at the breakdown, especially in the Eagles half. Quick, explosive phases followed by mostly error-free passing had Goulburn in front early into the game.

Gungahlin scored first but the next two tries were Goulburn’s, providing a 12-5 lead to the Reds. The Eagles scored the next two tries though and at half time held a 19-12 lead.

Ben Pearson was passionate in his half time talk, delivering a couple of areas to work on but reminding the team not only how well they were doing outside of the scrum, but also acknowledging how well they were contesting it.

Which isn’t to say that the Gungahlin scrum was/is some unbeatable, supernatural entity. It’s big and well drilled. That’s about it. The absence of some key Goulburn forwards through injury, including Henry Cooper and Boyd Newby among others, helped to elevate its supremacy but Goulburn still contested well and had some wins at the scrum-base.

But if Gungahlin was out-scrumming Goulburn, Goulburn was out-rugbying Gungahlin.

A minute into the second half, the Reds had the scores tied up. Inside centre Hamish McCormack slipped rangy fullback Jordan Lees a short pass just inside Gungahlin territory, and Lees scooted past the Gungahlin defence for a try in the right corner.

Scores remained level at 19-19 for a while and a pattern set in – Gungahlin working for scums and penalties, Goulburn working for broken play and field position.

Gungahlin finally broke the deadlock later in the half, but the Reds lifted, coming home with a clean sail.

Three minutes remaining and Goulburn worked to the sideline for a lineout.

Two minutes to go and they were picking and driving twenty metres out.

In the final minutes the momentum was all Goulburn but an infringement returned possession to the Eagles who closed play with a kick into touch.

It’s the second 24-19 loss for Goulburn in as many weeks, but the nature of the game was quite different. Goulburn trailed for most of last week’s match against Queanbeyan, but they were up to their guts in it this week against the minor premiers.

This week showed the right game plan and the right execution removed any mystique there may have been about Gungahlin.

Goulburn’s performance against Gungahlin this time around was leaps and bounds ahead of their last encounter, with the Reds within coo-ee of winning. The trick for Goulburn now is to battle through the matches to get the chance to play them again.

As a result of the top six system being utilized in the competition, neither of the top two sides were knocked out from that game. Gungahlin will next week play ADFA, who knocked Royals out of the finals with a 31-19 win, and Goulburn will play Queanbeyan who ended Hall’s season with an 18-15 result.

Gungahlin 24 bt Goulburn 19 (Brad Muddiman, Alec Palmer, Jordan Lees tries, Mik Webber 2 conversions).