Recap

Record win over ADFA for short-staffed Dirty Reds Women

By Chris Gordon

The Goulburn Dirty Reds Women extended their already sizeable lead at the top of the table with a second back to back win against closest rivals ADFA, notching up a 50-36 final result.

ADFA has proven to be a fly in the ointment, a monkey in the wrench if you will, for the Goulburn Women’s team, winning two of their three encounters last year including a sizeable grand final win. ADFA has also accumulated the best for and against differential this season, not only in this grade but in any of the grades Goulburn seniors play in. They are an adversary to take seriously.

In that context, Goulburn’s last round 36-24 win over ADFA, their leading rivals again this season, was significant both in terms of securing this year’s top spot and in their ongoing rivalry.

Playing a second match against ADFA in as many rounds, the Goulburn women were keen to show the previous result was no fluke. For both sides, the task was made that much tougher by having mostly empty benches – Goulburn having one reserve and ADFA two.

Despite the final score, the match was tight at many stages throughout. Twelve-all at one stage, 33-29 at another. At every turn, ADFA came back at Goulburn but the Reds held the greater resolve and energy in the end, notching up their best ever score (and first 50) against ADFA.

The gutsy win was a genuine team effort with seven of the 11 woman squad crossing for tries and with the reliable boot of Ash Mewburn guiding five conversions safely home. The win puts them 12 points ahead of ADFA, and 13 ahead of Bungendore putting their hopes of a minor premiership in good shape. Next weekend they are at Jindabyne against the Mudchicks and the long away trip and the difficulty assembling numbers will be obstacles for the Goulburn side to overcome.

Goulburn 50 (Livia Minikin 2, Josephine O’Brien, Sariah Mita, Ashleigh Deaton, Jasmine Bes, Chloe Waddell, Blyss Burke tries; Ash Mewburn 5 conversions) bt ADFA 36.

Best & fairest points:

3 – Blyss Burke
2 – Josephine O’Brien
1 – Ash Deaton

Players Player:

Hunnie Martin & Blyss Burke