Recap

Slow start hampers Reds against Gungahlin

By Chris Gordon

As with the second grade game, the half time points gap was the same at full time as a slow start was the difference between the two sides.

The Eagles were up by 14 points after 18 minutes giving the Reds some early work to do but that lead was reduced to nine points thanks to a Jimmy Rudd try 25 minutes in.

Gungahlin scored another try two minutes into the second half (the ten minutes into second half red zone that comes up a bit) pushing the gap out to 14 points again but a Henry Cooper try reduced that to nine points again.

The Dirty Reds were continuing to improve as the game went on, despite having half of the team backing up from the second grade game, but a Goulburn discretion in the 56th minute proved to be a turning point.

Goulburn was about 35 metres out and had just been awarded a penalty in good position to score, but a tackle on an Eagles player seconds after the whistle was deemed to be high. The penalty was reversed, a Goulburn player was sin-binned and Gungahlin ran in a try a minute later. The potential Goulburn try would have reduced the margin to 17-19 but instead saw the gap blow out to 10-26.

Again, on tired legs, Goulburn dug deep and added another converted try through Connor Minehan and Brandon Courts and continued to contest the match keenly but were unable to close the gap.

There are a few things that need work from the match but there was plenty to like in Goulburn’s performance. The tit-for-tat level-scoring second half showed Goulburn has what it takes to compete with and beat Gungahlin, it’s just a case of bringing all the bits together at the same time (and hopefully more fresh legs). 

Next weekend all senior Goulburn sides are playing at home against Uni Norths.

Gungahlin 26 bt Goulburn 17 (Jimmy Rudd, Henry Cooper, Connor Minehan tries, Brandon Courts conversion).

Best & Fairest points:

3 – Hamish Baird
2 – Connor Minehan
1 – Campbell Kruger

Players Player:

Mikael Webber

By the clock:

13 mins – Gungahlin conv. try (0-7)
18 mins – Gungahlin conv. try (0-14)
25 mins – Jimmy Rudd try (5-14)

37 mins – Gungahlin try (5-19)
47 mins – Henry Cooper try (10-19)
56 mins – Yellow card – Niki
57 mins – Gungahlin conv. try (10-26)
24 mins – Connor Minehan try, Brandon Courts conv. (17-26)