Recap

Second half turnaround secures competition leadership for Dirty Reds

By CHRIS GORDON

The Goulburn Dirty Reds seized outright first spot on the ACT first division first grade ladder with a very solid 46-7 against Uni North Owls at ANU North Oval on Saturday.

It’s the third consecutive game in which the Reds have scored 46 points or more while restricting their opponents to two tries or less, but while the score was undeniable, the match was not a showcase of Goulburn dominance. In fact, at halftime, the match was very much in the balance.

A game of two very distinct halves, Goulburn was slow to get off the bus… choose your favourite cliché… but at the end of a very low-scoring half, Goulburn trailed by 7-5.

The first-half performance was not assisted by the withdrawal of several players from illness and the last minute shuffling of the team causing a number of players to play out of position. But the team didn’t help themselves either, with indiscipline and backchat in the first section letting the Owls into the game.

But the Reds rallied in the second half, putting on seven more unanswered tries, regularly making good yards up the midfield and finishing strongly, mostly through the outside backs.

Eric Brown, who’d scored Goulburn’s only first-half try, scored his second just one minute into the second half. Then, at a regular rate, came tries to Taniela Halafihi, Brad Clements, Mik Webber, Adam Lachlan, a second to Taniela and one to Will Mooney.

Best and fairest points for Goulburn went to Adam Lachlan (3), Jordan Wilcox (2), Abram Kara (1) and Alec Palmer (1) with Lachlan also voted Players’ Player.

Next weekend Goulburn men’s first and second-grade sides have the bye caused by the withdrawal of ADFA, and will be on the road for their next match against Tuggeranong at Viking Park on 21 May.

Goulburn 46 (Eric Brown 2, Taniela Halafihi 2, Brad Clements, Mikael Webber, Adam Lachlan, Will Mooney tries, Webber 3 conversions) bt Uni Norths 7.

Photos, PETE OLIVER.

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By the clock:

• 12 mins – Eric Brown try (5-0)
• 16 mins – Uni Norths converted try (5-7)
• HALF TIME
• 36 mins – Eric Brown try (10-7)
• 44 mins – Taniela Halafihi try (15-7)
• 51 mins – Brad Clements try, Mik Webber conversion (22-7)
• 56 mins – Mik Webber try (27-7)
• 59 mins – Adam Lachlan try (32-7)
• 64 mins – Taniela Halafihi try, Mik Webber conversion (39-7)
• 69 mins – Will Mooney try, Mik Webber conversion (46-7)