Randwick at Simon Poidevin Field

Rugby's day for the ages

BY LLOYD SCROOPE Goulburn Post

21 Mar, 2011 11:26 AM

FOR the rugby purists, it couldn't get much better.

Photos of Wicks Colts vs Brumbies Colts

Photos of Randwick vs Brumbies Runners

They were amused at the sight of the Fermented Reds, jumped at the change to gauge the progress of their local lads, treated to a look at some up-and-coming stars and absorbed by a contest that featured regular Super 15 combatants.

Amongst it all was the official opening of a fully equipped clubhouse set to revolutionise the spectators' experience at Rugby Park. No longer will Dirty Reds fans have to brave the blustery conditions prevalent at Simon Poidevin Field.

Instead, they can treat themselves to a drink, a pie and a sleet free seat to the rugby. As far as red-letter days go, Saturday March 19, 2011, will be penned in history as one of the Dirty Reds' best.

The rugby gala day culminated with a match featuring some of Australia's most exciting stars. The Brumby Runners - an outfit featuring Wallabies Stephen Hoiles, Peter Kimlin, Matt Toomua and regular Super 15 stars Patrick Phibbs and Christian Lealiifano - proved too classy in a point-a-minute thrashing of Sydney's proudest club, the Randwick Galloping Greens.

Earlier punters were treated to a fast, free-flowing game of rugby by future Wallabies when the Brumbies Colts edged out their Randwick counterparts. Goulburn's own Jacob Kara put his stamp on the affair, scoring two tries for the Brumbies and calling the shots with authority from flyhalf.

In a positive sign for the club, the Dirty Reds brushed off the cobwebs in a comfortable three tries to one victory over Cootamundra.

While far from overjoyed by his team's display, Dirty Reds coach Matt O'Rourke said fans had plenty to look forward to.

"We were a bit rusty, but by and large I was quite happy," O'Rourke said.

"It's the just basics that let us down a little. We were falling off tackles and we gave away a lot of ball - they're fairly common problems at this time of year."

The three-time premiership winning coach was impressed by the form of his outside centre Reece Cranston and the effort of his tenacious albeit slightly framed scrumhalf Aiden Greaves. In between the rugby, of course, was the formal opening of the clubhouse - a project that's been years in the making, involved endless hours of volunteer work and tens of thousands of dollars.

Former Wallaby and ex-Dirty Red Simon Poidevin had the pleasure of opening the clubhouse and was joined by mayor Geoff Kettle, incumbent Member for Goulburn Pru Goward and Veolia Mulwaree Trust director Paul Stephenson in addressing the crowd.

The Veolia Mulwaree Trust was a key ingredient in the club's quest, donating $40,000 towards the project. Current Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom gave both the kids and more hardened rugby fans a thrill, signing autographs while his teammates at the Brumbies prepared for the clash. O'Rourke made it clear the day would be etched into Dirty Reds' folklore.

"All in all, it was a great success," he said. "Every few years, you have a major event as a club. What happened on Saturday was as good as any in the last 20 years. It highlights the strength of the club and the dedicated people involved."