The Goulburn Stockmen side, despite only having 12 players started strongly with Dwayne Zukaskis scoring in the first minute of play.

Goulburn had the downhill run to start and Dylan Gray made some valuable meters by scoring in the next set of six.

The following set saw the Goulburn forwards of Kade Robertson, Jai Thompson, Harry Whitehead and Mick Chintis set the platform for a backline move, which resulted in another try to Dwayne.

All tries to this stage were converted by Dylan Croker to hand the Stockies a commanding lead.

The Roos scored a converted try against the run of play but the Stockies were not done with some determined surges by Dylan Gray and Dwayne Zukaskis resulting in two quick tries.

After halftime the Roos had all the advantage with the downhill run resulting in two tries. 

The Stockies rallied with determined defence from the outside backs Jordan O’Neil and Zach Waburton and in the middle Caleb McCleland to snuff out the Roos.

The Goulburn halves in Cody McCallum and Marley O’Brien, then regained control of the match to pilot the Stockies to a 42 – 22 win.

Congratulations to the boys for a determined effort despite being under strength.

Also a big thanks to the support staff and the parents for their valuable assistance.

Good luck for the rest of the season.

Under 13 Goulburn Blue Division 1

GOULBURN Under 13 Blue Division 1 took on Valley Dragons on a very wet and soggy North Park last Sunday in round seven of the Canberra Region Rugby League (CRRL) competition.

What was a 2015 Grand Final replay with both teams equal leaders in the 2016 Division 1 competition this match had all the making for a cracking game of football.

Right from the referee’s whistle the young Stockies looked set for a big day when the Raiders Under 13 incumbent hooker Trent Price crashed over from dummy half wide out to open the scoring with the conversion being successful.

Play went from end to end with the Dragons next to score after two sets on Goulburn’s line leaving the score 6-4.

With Goulburn’s front rowers Jackson Boyt and Cameron Eaton laying a platform that the Dragons simply could not match the most damaging ball runner in the competition Damien Chamberlain found some lazy defenders to score.

Chamberlain converted his own try from wide out.

With the game evenly poised Goulburn’ s forwards Jake McIntosh, Hayden Grant and Lachlan Handley tackled themselves to standstill and continued to stop any opposition.

With a few of the boys being unavailable due to injury and the flu Lincoln Duesbury stepped up an age and simply played out of his skin and was rewarded by scoring a great try which was again converted by Chamberlain bringing Goulburn up 18-4.

With seconds left in the first half the Dragons scored to make the score 18-8 at the break.

The second half was underway with the rain making ball control very difficult, but the Stockies continued to complete their sets.

This was starting to take toll of the big Dragons side. 

Jayde Howard Goulburn’s half really took control of the game, with some great touches, which led to our outside backs Jacob Peterson , Sam Campbell , Aiden Cox-Bishop and David Melville finding big meters out wide.

Aidan Kerr, who was carrying the flu, but toughed it out, made some great cover tackles.

Chamberlain crossed for his second try of the day with a great team set play from the base of the scrum to keep Goulburn’s momentum going, leaving the score at 22-8.

The Dragons let the Stockies know that this game was not finished by scoring their third try of the day.

Lachlan Turner had worried the Dragons defence and attack all day and continues to play tough , skillful footy.

With two other boys stepping up and playing well above their weight Trent Jeffrey and Justin Norris simply putting their body on the line, the whole team dug deep.

Josh Latham, who was back from injury took the field and combined well with Howard in the halves to continue Goulburn’s roll on, which led the Stockies to have all the field position.

Chamberlain’s day was not finished. 

He scored his third try of the day from a penalty after a Dragons player was sent from the field. 

This took his try scoring tally to an amazing 26 tries, from 6 games.

The final score was Goulburn 26 to Dragons 12.

The boys were praised highly from the coaching staff, who stated it was the best team performance this year. 

Very hard to single any boy out for their performance but Chamberlain, Price, Boyt , Eaton, Howard and Turner were outstanding.

With another tough game next week against West Belconnen and then a three week break the team are currently sitting first and looking super keen to enter GIO Stadium again at the end of the year.

Each and every player this year should be super proud of their football achievements and they are all growing into respectful young men.