Recap

Best performance but not quite enough

By Chris Gordon

The Dirty Twos performance against Tuggeranong, their best of the year so far, had almost everything going for it. Goulburn led for most of the first half and outscored Tuggeranong in the second half but sadly couldn’t secure the W for their efforts.

Goulburn set about the match at breakneck speed with a tactically smart game plan against the bigger, more physical Vikings side. Fly half Brandon Courts employed a deft kicking game to keep Tuggeranong in their half while the forwards secured possession at the ruck, quickly moving from phase to phase.

After only six minutes, in his first match of the season coming back from injury, Mikael Webber crossed for a try – his 214th for the club – with Courts converting for the 7 point lead. That lead stayed intact until the 23rd minute when Tuggeranong crossed and converted to level scores.

Goulburn continued to take the game to Tuggeranong, and pressured their line for an extended period without breaking through determined Tuggeranong defence. Just before the break and against the run of play, the Vikings added a try for a 12-7 half-time lead but despite that lead, by any other measure it appeared Goulburn was in the driver’s seat.

To match Goulburn’s agility, Goulburn benched many of their bigger men in the second half and had a better share of field position in a tit for tat half of rugby. The Vikings were first to cross the line in the second session but Josh Hannan replied with Courts adding the extras. The Vikings added another try shortly after but again Goulburn replied with a Chris Bush try and Courts conversion.

It was an enthralling game of rugby with the intensity maintained right up until the end. With ten minutes remaining Goulburn trailed by just 24-21 and the match was very match up for grabs. Unfortunately the Reds couldn’t increase their score while the Vikings added a penalty goal for the 27-21 final outcome.

Goulburn’s week-to-week improvement has been evident and is now bearing fruit. This match finally revealed the side’s potential and the style of football that best suits them. The loss by less than 7 points earned Goulburn a bonus point, putting them on the competition table and providing some recognition for their efforts.

 Next weekend both men’s teams will play Gungahlin at home while the women’s team will travel to Dowsett Field for the game of the year against ADFA.

Tuggeranong 27 bt Goulburn 21 (Mikael Webber, Peter Ward, Josh Hannan tries; Brandon Courts 3 conversions).

Best & Fairest Points:

3 – Brandon Courts
2 – Michael Cooke
1 – Emiliano Kolofale

Players Player:

Brandon Courts

By the Clock:

6 min – Mikael Webber try, Brandon Courts conversion (7-0)
23 mins – Tuggeranong converted try (7-7)
30 mins – Tuggeranong try (7-12)

42 mins – Tuggeranong penalty try (7-19)
55 mins – Josh Hannan try, Courts conversion (14-19)
58 mins – Tuggeranong try (14-24)
60 mins – Chris Bush try, Courts conversion (21-24)
69 mins – Tuggeranong penalty goal (21-27)