Goulburn Swans have defeated a heated Woden side in a contest that saw the visitors come back after an early goal shock from a fast flying home side.
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On Goodhew Park Goulburn on Saturday there was plenty of feeling between the two fourth grade sides in the Canberra region Australian rules competition as both teams looked to cement their top four positions.
Goulburn jumped out to an early lead on Saturday afternoon with three goals in quick succession. there were some heated exchanges in the quarter and with seven minutes to go one player from each side was sin binned to cool off for 10 minutes.
Brad Smith had to sit out the first three minutes of the second half as did the Woden player but with no substitutions allowed both teams were a player short. The on field feelings were matched by the vocalisations from the sideline.
Coach Matt Lee said that Goulburn played particularly well and had been defending strongly throughout the competition particularly considering they lost fullback David Nell in about round five with an ACL injury.
“James Ken as line back and Andrew Mewburn in the fullback spots have really worked hard to disrupt the scoring opportunities for our opponents and Saturday against Woden was no different,” Lee said. “They have covered well for the loss of David who till then was a tower of strength in our backline.
“Our pressure around the mid field has been good with younger players in particular stepping up in the last couple of weeks.
“Simon Treloar and Mick Patton in the mid field and Phil Nguyen on the wing have been a key to getting the ball up the field to our forwards.
“Dale Cummins and Will Neate are probably the fastest forwards in the competition and are a key to winning the ball and our scoring.
“They combine really well up front working in tandem to get to the ball and and win it on pace.
At half time the score was 6 – 3 – 39 to Goulburn and Woden 4 – 5 – 29; at the end of the third quarter Woden had narrowed the margin to Goulburn 7 – 5 – 47 to Woden 6 – 8 – 44.
“Woden came back at us in the second and third quarters and I think may have got ahead at one stage but we held them out in the final quarter apart from one early goal,” Lee said. “It was a very tough encounter but the team has really stepped up in the last few weeks and are combining well to maximise possession and get the ball to our forwards.”
The final score was Goulburn Swans 8 – 10 – 58 to Woden 7 – 8 – 50.
On Friday night the Goulburn Swans play the Googong Hogs at Rockley Oval starting at 6.30pm.