Recap

Goulburn firsts seconds away from major upset

By Chris Gordon

It may have been a dead rubber for the Dirty Reds, but the Goulburn first grade side finished the year with a dominant display against their semi-finals bound opponents Tuggeranong Vikings.

And a dominant display by Goulburn it truly was. At half time Goulburn was ahead 7-0. One minute from full time, Goulburn was ahead 14-13. Those are the 69 minute worth remembering from this match. But then came a controversial call, an ugly brawl and an end to the season that didn’t reflect the tenacious contest the two sides had just experienced.

So let’s back track 70 minutes. 

Against a Tuggeranong side that was playing to secure fourth spot on the ladder, Goulburn was nonetheless playing some of it’s best rugby of the season.

Quick pick and drives, swift phase ball, timely exits, strong defence… it was a show case of Goulburn’s abilities at the end of a long season punctuated by players frequently having to back up. Despite Tuggeranong having a number of higher graded players supplementing their side (entirely legally and we’d probably do it to if we had the opportunity) Goulburn didn’t just measure up, they dominated.

After sustained pressure, skipper Eric Brown crossed the line with Brandon Courts converting for a 7-0 lead that would take them to the break.

Four minutes into the second half, Tuggeranong equalised with a converted try and then, with some tactically astute choices that proved crucial at the end, kicked penalty goals in the 46th and 50th minutes to edge out to a 13-7 lead.

The Vikings were leading on the scoreboard but Goulburn was throwing plenty of attacking options at Tuggeranong. Eventually the Vikings defensive line cracked and with 8 minutes remaining, Goulburn retook a slender 14-13 lead.

With just a handful of minutes left in their season, Goulburn locked into some serious big D. But Tuggeranong wasn’t there to become amorous with spiders, and put on a solid attack on the Goulburn line.

And here’s the controversial bit. Running with the ball, the ball left Vikings hands in a forward direction, hit a Goulburn player and then went forward from his hands. That was ruled knock on by Goulburn. Not a lot more you can say about that. Thence came the final Tuggeranong try, the brawl, a red card to each side, an allegation of racial abuse of a Goulburn player by a spectator and a disappointing end to the game.

Both sides vehemently believed the other started the fight. I’ll leave that debate to the participants. There are other matters I’ll avoid mentioning in case they might imply bias on my part. 

But against such a strong and supplemented side that beat Goulburn 40-7 last time around, against a heavy penalty count and on the end of an energy-sapping season of regular double ups, this two tries a piece match was a gutsy and emphatic final season hurrah for the first grade Dirty Reds.

In the absence of the many retirees from last year and those that moved on to player at a higher level, new names came on board, old hands rose to the occasion and tried new positions, and the players resilience was routinely tested. Despite this being a season that produced few wins, the side played every match for the full 70 minutes like it was the only game that mattered. Well done to the combined two-team squad of players, to the coaches, managers, supporters and committee members who hung in there for a tough season. If adversity is the prism in which character is truly revealed, this season revealed champions.

Tuggeranong 20 bt Goulburn 14 (Eric Brown, Josh Condylios tries; Brandon Courts 2 conversions).

Best & Fairest points:

3 – Dallas Brown
2 – Laboroto Tauoqooqo
1 – Vereniki Naureure

Players Player:

Vereniki Naureure

By the clock:

24 mins – Eric Brown try, Brandon Courts conv (7-0)

39 mins – Tuggeranong converted try (7-7)
46 mins – Tuggeranong penalty goal (7-10)
50 mins – Tuggeranong penalty goal (7-13)
62 mins – Josh Condylios try, Courts conv (14-13)
69 mins – Tuggeranong converted try (14-20)