The Goldies strength in the middle and in scrums has been huge for them this season. Previous match vs Temora on home gold soil.
In a thrilling top-of-the-table clash that lived up to expectations, the Boorowa Goldies closed out the first half of the season with an emphatic 31–17 victory over the Harden Red Devils on Saturday afternoon.
The match, played in front of a vocal home crowd, capped off the first half of the competition and showcased the grit and depth of a Goldies side eager to make a statement early in the season. Goldies captain Keagan Size was full of praise for his side after the hard-fought win.
“A very good win,” Size said. “We knew it was going to be close a real battle out wide. But in the end, we stood up, set the platform, and let our linemen go to work through them.”
The match started with Harden dominating possession, holding the ball for nearly 70 percent of the first half.
The Goldies were forced to dig deep on defence, repelling wave after wave of Devils’ attacks.
“We probably only had 30 percent possession in that first half,” Size admitted. “But our forwards stood tall and did the hard yards. That defensive effort kept us in it.”
Trailing at halftime, Boorowa turned the tide early in the second half with a game-changing moment. A dominant scrum just five metres out from the try line earned the Goldies a penalty try, swinging momentum firmly in their favour.
“That penalty try was a turning point,” Size said.
“It snapped them out of rhythm and gave us a second wind.”
From there, the Goldies took control.
Their forward pack continued to impress, laying the groundwork for their backs to slice through the Devils’ defence. The two centres in particular stood out, running hard lines and keeping the opposition on the back foot.
By the final whistle, the scoreboard reflected the Goldies’ resurgence and superior execution in the second half, finishing with a 14-point margin.
The Boorowa Goldies will now enjoy a well-earned break over the long weekend before facing off against the Condobolin Rams to kick off the second half of the season.
-Liam Stuart
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