Recap

It was a sunny day and rugby was played

By CHRIS GORDON

Sure, a season starting scoreline of 7-66 could be better, but same games are tough games and some years are tough years.

Against a backdrop in which the club had three of its most senior members retire last year, and four other rep players switch to Canberra clubs, a “rebuilding year” was always on the cards, and that’s what we’ve got.

The Dirty Twos that played against Royals at Phillip Oval was a textbook case of a rag-tag, thrown together side of players out of position, most who’d never met before and some who’d never played rugby before. So Royals got off to a gallop with three tries on the board within the first ten minutes. But learning on the job, Goulburn dug deep and denied Royals access for the next 16 minutes with gritty, solid defence. Nonetheless Royals were able to cross two more times before the break and had a 33-0 lead at half time.

Royals were first to score in the second session but Goulburn’s next ten minutes of play was their most enterprising of the match. Sortie after sortie brought them closer to the line as Royals discipline evaporated and a slew of penalties resulted in a penalty try to Goulburn. With seven minutes left in the game, Goulburn trailed 7-40 and that would probably have been a reasonable indication of the game, but 4 rapid fire tries by Royals stretched that to 66-7, a record score by a Royals team against the Dirty Reds.

Perhaps the only stain on the game was an attempted box kick by coach Corbie Yeo, straight out of the Matt Dunning front-rowers kicking handbook.

So… a tough start, and maybe a tough year ahead, but despite the score this side never got yappy with the ref, never chucked in their bundle and played with great determination. Who knows what the year may hold. Also, for the first time in club history, we fielded an all Justin front row. And it was a sunny day and rugby was played. What’s not to love?

The Dirty Reds men’s sides have next weekend off before reforming to take on Uni-Norths at ANU North Oval on May 4.

Royals 66 bt Goulburn 7 (penalty try).

Best & Fairest points

3 – Jack White
2 – Matt Thompson
1 – Jimmy Rudd
1 – Jack Burke

Players Player

Josh Condylios

By the clock

3 mins – Royals converted try (0-7)
6 mins – Royals conv. try (0-14)
10 mins – Royals conv. try (0-19)
26 mins – Royals conv. try (0-26)
30 mins – Royals conv. try (0-33)

41 mins – Royals conv. try (0-40)
51 mins – Goulburn penalty try (7-40)
63 mins – Royals conv. try (7-47)
66 mins – Royals conv. try (7-54)
68 mins – Royals conv. try (7-59)
70 mins – Royals conv. try (7-66)