Recap

Rousing result over RMC gives Reds the minor premiership

By CHRIS GORDON

The Goulburn Dirty Reds secured the ACT Monaro minor premiership with a dominant 67-0 win over RMC.

At the end of a stop-start season that was delayed by COVID and then shortened by rain-affected matches and team unavailabilities, the Reds put together a strong platform for the semi-finals but only after a slow start.

This was Goulburn’s first match against RMC due to the College’s unavailability the first time around, making this match a double point game.

Making up for lost time, the Cadets came out firing and looked entirely up to the occasion for the first 20 minutes. Full of fitness, RMC challenged the Goulburn line early in the match, competed well at the breakdown and put in some solid hits but had no answer for Goulburn’s dynamic scrum.

It took Goulburn 22 minutes to finally get on the board with a Ben Cheetham try, but the tide turned quickly with that. Matt Spratley added a try two minutes later, and then a second seven minutes later. Adam Lachlan added the first of his trifecta just before the break and at half-time, Goulburn led 22-0.

A first-half hamstring injury to the referee required a replacement and former Dirty Red Michael Hayes who’d only dropped in to watch a game of bush rugby was tapped on the shoulder to officiate.

The ref wasn’t the only change. In preparation for the semis and with reserve grade having the bye, Goulburn made wholesale changes within the first ten minutes of the second half to give all of the bench players match time, and they accepted the opportunity with relish.

With fresh legs and a massively talented bench, the Reds scored seven second-half tries as RMCs match fitness and discipline faltered.

Next weekend, Goulburn will play RMC again in the 1 v 4 semi-final with the loser knocked out and the winner straight through to the grand final against the winner of Hall v ADFA, to be played at ADFA.

Goulburn reserve grade will be playing against East in the 1 v 4 semi-final at Poidevin Oval.

Best and fairest points went to Ben Cheetham (3), Brad Clements (2), Adam Lachlan (2) and Henry Cooper (1). Boyd Newby and Ben Cheetham were voted Players’ Players.

Goulburn 67 (Adam Lachlan 3, Matt Spratley 2, Ben Cheetham, Jackson Reardon, Michael Cooke, Micthell White, Nick Cornish, Tyler Cornish tries, Mik Webber 6 conversion) bt RMC 0.

The final ladder looks like this:

Men's 1st Grade Ladder 2020

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Points
1	Goulburn M1	8	7	1	0	330	101	229	37
2	ADFA M1	8	5	1	2	185	139	46	27
3	Hall M1	8	4	1	4	215	188	27	24
4	RMC M1	8	2	0	6	102	186	-84	14
5	Easts M1	8	0	1	7	43	261	-218	2

• NOTE: All draws refer to the abandoned round of games called off due to wet grounds… Goulburn won all matches they played.

Photos: CHRIS GORDON.