Recap

Goulburn women secure home grand final following dominant semi

By Peter Oliver

The history-making Goulburn Rugby Women’s side has booked its place in the ACT 10s grand final, following a dominant 56-10 win over ADFA.

The semi-final victory, which sees the Reds extend their unbeaten season to 15 wins on the trot, means the Goulburn side will host the grand final on 7 September – the first Women’s final to be held in Goulburn.

From the kick off, the Reds showed great patience. Building up phase play while running into the teeth of a strong headwind, they were the first to score through bullocking second rower Jessie-Jane Abnett for an early 7-0 lead.

Things went a bit pear-shaped for a little while after that. ADFA soon responded when they got the ball out wide for a long-range counterattack, and Goulburn were camped down on their own line. ADFA scored again, and took a 10-7 lead into quarter time.

It was the last time they would cross the Goulburn line. The injection of Grace Maxwell into the game proved pivotal, with the flyer bagging a hattrick and breaking the match open with her first touch. She split the ADFA defence, before putting Emily Stanberg away for Goulburn to retake the lead.

Two minutes later, halfback Josephine O’Brien extended the lead, before captain Bella Sheen scored her first of the day. Goulburn made things difficult for themselves at times. After receiving repeat warnings for high tackles, O’Brien earned herself a rest on the naughty chair for ten minutes. She was joined less than a minute later by Sheen, who was yellow carded for a clumsy, dangerous tackle.

With two players down, Goulburn lifted. They tightened up their defence, and Maxwell even scored two tries. It was a fantastic show of fortitude and focus, and one that sums up this team’s ability to adapt on the run. Shortly after she came back on, Sheen completed a set move to crash over for her second try of the game, in what ended up being the final play of the game.

In a sign of the home side’s physical dominance, the game ended at three-quarter time after ADFA suffered a series of injuries, leaving them short of players.

Coach Ash Mewburn was perfect off the boot and finished the game with eight from eight conversions. ADFA will now face the Bungendore Mudchicks, following their last minute 36-32 win over Royals, with the winner to take on Goulburn in the grand final.

Goulburn 54 (Grace Maxwell 3, Bella Sheen 2, Jessie Abnett, Emily Stanberg, Josephine O’Brien tries, Ash Mewburn 8 conversions) bt ADFA 10.

Best & Fairest:

3 – Grace Maxwell
2 – Jessie Abnett
1 – Nicole Waddell

Players Player:

Grace Maxwell

By the clock:

3 mins – Jessie Abnett try, ASh Mewburn conv (7-0)
7 mins – ADFA try (7-5)
15 mins – ADFA try (7-10)

16 mins – Emily Stanberg try, Mewburn conv (14-10)
18 mins – Josephine O’Brien try, Mewburn conv (21-10)
22 mins – Bella Sheen try, Mewburn conv (28-10)
29 mins – Grace Maxwell try, Mewburn conv (35-10)

37 mins – Grace Maxwell try, Mewburn conv (42-10)
41 mins – Grace Maxwell try, Mewburn conv (49-10)
45 mins – Bella Sheen try, Mewburn conv (56-10)