Recap

West Lions too good for Dirty Twos

By CHRIS GORDON

On a windy day with rain coming down sideways at times, the Goulburn Dirty Reds second-grade side lost to Wests by 32-14 on Saturday.

Klem Oval bounced back pretty well from the downpours of the last few days, but visitors and locals alike played with chattering teeth at first as they worked their way into the game.

As has been happening to the Reds a few times in recent games, the Wests side was strengthened by the inclusion of higher-grade players with matches in the club’s higher grades against Penrith either called off or postponed. But the job is to play the team in front of you and the Reds set to it determinedly.

Wests ran in four unanswered first-half tries but that wasn’t a measure of the tenacity of Goulburn’s defence. The Dirty Twos kept getting back up to take on their outsized opponents, but the weight of possession against them cruelled Goulburn.

Part of West’s glut of possession was a result of Goulburn’s handling. While Goulburn was unquestionably gutsy, their work with ball in hand left a lot to be desired. Long passes in the blustery wind, no-look passes… even short, sympathetic passes often went to ground untouched or bounced off the receiver’s hand.

At the break, coach Jack Anable urged the side to forget about the game score or the bigger picture, and to concentrate on what was in front of them in the moment and get that right.

Goulburn scored the first try of the second half (spoiler alert – and the last) and outscored Wests 14-10 in the second section, but Wests were clearly the stronger side and had done more than enough in the first half to earn the win.

It was a massive turn-around for the Wests side that had only won one previous match this year, and was beaten comfortably by Goulburn 34-21 earlier this year.

For all of the solid contacts, it was a good-spirited game from both sides and a solid workout for Goulburn despite the loss.

The club’s injury toll is most keenly felt in the lowest grade as they not only lose some of their own regular players but also supply others up to fill first-grade injuries, but the nucleus of this side is clicking well and showing good signs of progress in every game.

Nick Tabner did a good job in his debut as skipper, putting his body on the line time and again including a bone-crunching hit that left both he and the tackled player sprawled out on the deck.

Best and fairest players were Jarrod Thompson (3), Josh Hannan (2),Meki Masunu (1) and Jimmy Rudd (1). Masunu was also named players player.

Wests Lions 32 (Luke Warwick 2, Jack Edwards 2, Feleti Kaihea, Rohan Murphy ties, Jack Edwards conversion) bt Goulburn Dirty Reds 14 (Jarrod Thompson, Cohen Ford tries, Jimmy Rudd 2 conversions).

By the clock

• 2 mins – Wests try (0-5)
• 15 mins – Wests try (0-10)
• 17 mins – Wests converted try (0-17)
• 32 mins – Wests try (0-22)
• HALF-TIME
• 36 mins – Jarrod Thompson try , Jimmy Rudd conversion (7-22)
• 41 mins – Wests try (7-27)
• 57 mins – Wests try (7-32)
• 65 mins – Cohen Ford try, Jimmy Rudd conversion (14-32)

Photos: Chris Gordon