Recap

First grade’s undefeated run comes to an end at Viking Park

By CHRIS GORDON

The Goulburn Dirty Reds first-grade side had not lost a match since August 17, 2019, but that 18 match undefeated run that began before there was a COVID-19 came to an end on Saturday following a narrow 31-28 loss to Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park.

The Reds put in a strong start and a strong finish, scoring in the first minute and in the second last minute of the match, but lost their way at times in between.

Three tries in the first half set up a 21-12 Goulburn lead at half-time but co-coach Mik Webber’s warning at the break… `don’t take these guys lightly, they’re a good side,’… proved prophetic with Tuggeranong responding with three second-half tries and Goulburn just the one.

Goulburn’s strong start began with Jordan Wilcox capitalising on a Matt Spratley break inside the first 40 seconds of the game.

It looked like the game might become a cakewalk. It didn’t.

Tuggeranong responded with their first try in the fourth minute. Going tit for tat, Matt Spratley retaliated in the 10th minute on the back of sustained pressure, but the Vikings replied with their second try in the 21st minute to be trailing Goulburn by 14-12.

In the final play of the first half, the Reds put the ball through the hands and Will Money finished the play with a try that gave Goulburn a half-time lead of 21-12.

One of the key elements of Goulburn’s performances over the last few years has been a second-half regrouping and a stronger second half response.

But not this time. If anything they lost their way for a time.

Tuggeranong scored 7 minutes into the second half. Then four minutes later. Then 13 minutes after that and suddenly a 21-12 lead was a 31-21 deficit.

With dominant seasons and mostly sizeable wins throughout 2020 and 2021, Goulburn firsts haven’t found themselves on the back foot and trailing for some time and this offered a good opportunity to test their mettle when things go pear-shaped.

The Reds dug deep and responded well.

The final ten minutes were filled with Goulburn pressuring the Tuggeranong line and forcing the Vikings to defend.

With two minutes remaining, Brad Clements crossed for Goulburn and Webber, who kicked four from four attempts on the day, closed the gap to just three points. From the restart, Goulburn’s urgency was still apparent but time ran out on a fairy tale finish.

Co-coach Jackson Reardon made the point after the match that, while you never want a loss, it’s better to get one early in the year to see what needs to be worked on rather than find out a deficiency in the finals.

As in the reserve grade match, Tuggeranong had assembled a bigger pack than Goulburn had. Also as in reserve grade, the unavailability of three first grade front rowers didn’t help.

Speaking to the players after the match, reserve grade coach David Anable commented that bigger packs is the template Goulburn would face in this grade for most matches this year and that the job for Goulburn was to put together a game plan to counter that.

Best and fairest for Goulburn were Will Mooney (3), Jackson Reardon (2) and Brad Clements (1) while Mooney also earned Players’ Player.

Next weekend all Goulburn teams are at home, with the men’s teams playing Gungahlin and the Women’s team playing Yass.

Tuggeranong 31 (Name Withheld 2, Dean Wilsan, Nicholas Cushan, Sione Mau, James Erwin, Ti Ikitau tries, James Erwin 2, Maleli Gadai 1, Name Withheld conversions) bt Goulburn 28 (Jordan Wilcox, Matt Spratley, Will Mooney, Brad Clements, Mik Webber 4 conversion)

Photos by PETE OLIVER

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By the clock:

• 1 min – Jordan Wilcox try, Mik Webber conversion (7-0)
• 4 mins – Tuggeranong converted try (7-7)
• 10 mins – Spratley try, Mik Webber conversion (14-7)
• 21 mins – Tuggeranong try (14-12)
• 35 mins – Will Mooney try, Mik Webber conversion (21-12)
• HALF-TIME
• 42 mins – Tuggeranong try (21-17)
• 46 mins – Tuggeranong converted try (21-24)
• 59 mins – Tuggeranong converted try (21-31)
• 68 mins – Brad Clements try, Mik Webber conversion (28-31)