Recap

Dirty Twos falter in loss to competition leaders

By CHRIS GORDON

After leading until the 42^nd minute, Goulburn’s reserve grade side eventually succumbed to competition leaders Uni-Norths Owls by 25-17.

The guts that had been evident the previous week that saw Goulburn hold on for a 15-15 draw against Tuggeranong was still present, but the second-grade leading Owls outfit proved a tougher obstacle.

The Owls scrum, though not as big as some of the sides the Dirty Twos have faced, was one of the best Goulburn has come up against forcing the side to concentrate on the breakdown and phase play for possession.

Thirteen minutes in and the Reds were first on the board with a Cohen Ford try, converted by Taniela Halafihi but five minutes later Uni-Norths replied with an unconverted try of their own. Midway through the first half, Goulburn held the slight two-point lead but held it firmly with no change to the score until the break.

Uni Norths took the lead seven minutes after the break with a penalty goal and then Goulburn stole it back 11 minutes later with a penalty goal to Halafihi.

The contest remained tough and seemingly evenly matched (scrums notwithstanding) and it was starting to look a bit like a repeat of last week’s see-sawing scoreline, but that wasn’t to be.

The Owls ran in three quick tries with Goulburn seemingly unprepared, particularly for the second two with the Reds offering little defence as they briefly lost focus.

With a win out of reach, hooker Tim Moule restored a bit of pride and reduced the damage with a last-minute try which, added to Halafihi’s conversion, reduced the gap to 25-17. But in the end, it was a four-tries-to-two win to Uni Norths, and that was a probably a fair reflection of the game

Midway through the game, the referee had to switch duties with a touch judge. Goulburn was on the wrong end of a very lopsided penalty count throughout the match but given there were two different refs, and that the balance of the penalties was the same in both halves, you can’t point the finger at the whistleblowers (well not entirely).

Many of the penalties were at key points that, as Vicki Sue Robinson (look her up) used to say, turned the beat around. Greater discipline may have provided a different result.

To have led the competition leaders until 42 minutes of a 70-minute match is an impressive effort. And to regain the lead for a further four-minute spell is also commendable.

In this match, the Dirty Twos showed they can hold their own and even beat the best in the competition if they bring their A game. Infringements and lapses in defence meant this was not that A game… but for much of the game it was close. The side now has a blueprint of what it needs to do going forward.

Best and fairest points for Goulburn went to Cooper Camden-Smith (3), Josh Metz (2) and Jimmy Rudd with Camden-Smith and Josh Metz sharing the players’ player honours. Josh Hannan was named the Grittiest Player.

Next week Goulburn will play Gungahlin at Perce Douglas Memorial Playing Fields in first and second grades. The women have the weekend off ahead of their grand final showdown at Mick Sherd Oval on 6 August against the winner of ADFA v Jindabyne.

Uni-Norths 25 (David Darcy 3 tries, Tom Hannan conversion, Declan Butorac penalty goal) bt Goulburn 17 (Cohen Ford, Tim Moule tries, Taniela Halafihi 2 conversions, 1 penalty goal)

By the clock:

• 13 mins – Cohen Ford try, Taniela Halafihi conversion (7-0)
• 18 mins – Uni-Norths try (7-5)
• HALFTIME
• 42 mins – Uni-Norths penalty goal (7-8)
• 53 mins – Taniela Halafihi penalty goal (10-8)
• 57 mins – Uni-Norths try (10-13)
• 63 mins – Uni-Norths try (10-18)
• 66 mins – Uni-Norths converted try (10-25)
• 70 mins – Tim Moule try, Jackson Reardon conversion (17-25)

Photos: Chris Gordon

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