Recap

Dirty Twos run rampant in time-shortened match against Easts

By CHRIS GORDON

After a lengthy break caused by byes and rained out grounds, the Goulburn Dirty Twos finally got to play a rare game of rugby on Saturday, notching up a 71-0 win over Easts at Poidevin Oval.

But the game nearly didn’t happen at all. Struggling for playing numbers in their only match outside of the ACT this season, Easts were only able to assemble a squad of around 22 players for both first and second grade games and considered forfeiting.

This would have been a huge blow for the match-starved Dirty Reds men’s teams who have only been given three chances to play in the seven rounds so far this year.

Fortunately the Easts players, who’ve also been match deprived, decided to double up and play two games but, while the Dirty Twos were appreciative, they didn’t go easy on Easts.

Inside the first two minutes, with another trademark body swerve, step and change of pace, Nick Cornish added to his already impressive try tally with the first of his three tries for the day. Goulburn’s slick backline repeated the dose time and again and by halftime, the Dirty Twos were up 29-0.

The pace only picked up in the second half. Adding to the five first-half tries, Goulburn piled on six more in a significantly time-reduced match that would most likely have blown out to a century if the game had run to time.

Eric Brown, Harry Newby and Mitch Cornish all scored doubles, with Guy Nesbitt-Titheradge and David Quick each adding a try.

Showing that class and the classics never go out of style, skipper Jeff Caldwell’s throwback toe-poking returned a 100% goal-kicking success rate with six goals from six attempts, while Mitch Cornish and Hamish McCormick also added a conversion each.

The Twos can expect a tougher and closer encounter next weekend when they hit the road to play Hall at Hall next weekend.

Goulburn 71 (Nick Cornish 3, Eric Brown 2, Harry Newby 2, Mitch Cornish 2, Guy Nesbitt-Titheradge, David Quick tries, Jeff Caldwell 6, Mitch Cornish, Hamish McCormack conversions) bt Easts 0.

Best and fairest players:

3 – Michael Cooke
2 – Harry Newby
1 – Nick Cornish

Players Player:

Eric Brown

Photos: PETE OLIVER

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