Recap

Reds victorious over Vikings in one point nail-biter

By CHRIS GORDON

In their first match in a month, the Goulburn Dirty Reds first grade side worked through some ring rust to defeat a well-matched Tuggeranong Vikings in a 25-24 nail-biter.

The two sides were locked up at 17 each at half-time and separated by just one point at the end as the lead switched five times throughout the match.

Due to forfeits and byes, the firsts have been sidelined since their June 18 win over Gungahlin, and the lack of match practice showed.

Although strong in the set pieces, the side was initially sluggish to adapt in broken play and allowed a few gaps early in defence, but these improved as the game went on.

Mik Webber put Goulburn on the board four minutes in with a penalty goal but Tuggeranong scored the next two tries, one of those converted, to be up 12-3 21 minutes in.

Goulburn scored the next two tries, Will Mooney busting through midfield in the 29^th minute and Alec Palmer on the right flank in the 33^rd minute, with both converted by Webber for a 17-12 lead. It looked to be a lead Goulburn would be taking into the break but a Tuggeranong try in the final minute levelled the scores.

Th second half was only three minutes old when Josh Condylios, finishing off a strong dash up the left side of the field, put in a deft chip and chase for a try that put Goulburn in front 22-17 and for 25 minutes that’s where the score stayed.

Both sides seemed evenly matched in breakdowns, scrums and lineouts, neither willing to give an inch and neither giving up.

With seven minutes left on the clock, Tuggeranong’s patience was rewarded with a converted try that put them ahead by 24-22 but the match, which started with a Webber penalty goal, was bookended by a second one three minutes from full time giving Goulburn the slender one-point victory.

Goulburn and Tuggeranong are now locked together in second place on the first grade table and just one win shy of the competition lead, with Goulburn holding a game in hand.

The match marked the welcome return of prop Henry Cooper who has been sidelined with a broken collarbone since round one, almost three months ago.

Brad Clements, who led out the team for his 150^th match for the club, was voted Players’ Player and received three best and fairest points for a totally committed 70-minute performance. Other best and fairest points went to Jordan Wilcox (2), Alec Palmer (1) and Matt Spratley (1).

The Dirty Reds will be back at Rugby Park, Goulburn in all three grades Saturday (assuming optimistically there are no forfeits), with the minor-premiers Women’s team contesting their semifinal against the Jindabyne Miss Piggies and the men’s sides taking on Uni-Norths.

Goulburn 25 (Will Mooney, Alec Palmer, Josh Condylios tries, Webber 2 conversions and 2 penalty goals) bt Tuggeranong 24 (Josh Southwell-Nobbes 2, Maleli Gadai, Owen Barker tries,  Nick Cushan 2 conversions)

By the clock:

• 4 mins – Mikael Webber Penalty Goal (3-0)
• 7 mins – Tuggeranong converted try (3-7)
• 21 mins – Tuggeranong try (3-12)
• 29 mins – Will Mooney try, Webber conversion (10-12)
• 33 mins – Alec Palmer try, Webber conversion (17-12)
• 35 mins – Tuggeranong try (17-17)
• HALF-TIME
• 38 mins – Josh Condylios try (22-17)
• 63 mins – Tuggeranong converted try (22-24)
• 67 mins – Webber penalty goal (25-24)

Photos: Chris Gordon

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