Goulburn snap losing streak with strong performance over the Roos

The Goulburn City Bulldogs have snapped their four-game losing streak with a dominant 80-minute performance at Seears Workwear Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Bulldogs back-rower Ron Leapai was damaging on the right-edge for the visitors, as he rallied his side home for a comfortable 38-18 victory over the Queanbeyan Kangaroos.

Goulburn dummy-half Jason Gray showed great awareness when he ducked-down the short side and played short to Jyi Little to cross for their first try of the afternoon. Chris Hart converted to give the visitors an early 6-nil lead.

Queanbeyan instantly responded, forcing an error the following set to find themselves on the attack. Until Goulburn winger Stephen Cummins picked off an intercept pass to run 90 meters and plant the ball down. Hart added the extras to extend the lead to 12-nil after just as many minutes.

The Roos answered right back when halfback Lochie Ingram kicked a towering bomb which found the turf and took an awful bounce.

The loose ball landed in the arms of Ingram, who threw a long ball for Aiden Agnew to cross the chalk for their first try of the afternoon. James Horvat converted to close the gap to 12-6 after 15 minutes.

The try-scoring marathon continued, when Rhys Elton's kick-restart went short and regathered to put his side straight back on the attack.

Goulburn halfback Joshua Latham then finished off the set in style, grubber kicking across the field for winger Dominic Stephens to bag one in the corner. Hart missed his first conversion of the afternoon, to bring the scores to 16-6.

Goulburn backrower Ron Leapai injected his impact onto this game, when he made a great run down the right-edge touchline to pick up 20 metres.

The quick play-the-ball allowed Gray to dart out of dummy half, break the line of defence, and link up with the young halfback Latham to score his first of the afternoon. Hart converted to extend the lead to 22-6.

The Roos finally hit back after some defensive lapses which put them on the back foot.

Lochie Ingram dove right into the line of defence and threw a beautiful long ball to put winger Daniel Reid over on the far touchline. Horvat nailed the conversion from the sideline to close the gap to 22-12 with two minutes before halftime.

In the final set of the first half, Ingram placed another towering bomb which found the turf and took another awful bounce, which this time found the hands of Goulburn winger Stephens.

Stephens linked up with fullback Dillon Rota who looked certain to score right on the stroke of halftime, until Reece Robinson made a great covering tackle to tajke the scores to 22-12 at halftime.

The opening ten minutes was an arm-wrestle between both sides, trading shots in defence and showing some real aggression.

The Roos had to be the next to score and they did in controversial style.

The Roos moved the ball to the left edge where Micheal Cullen threw a hail mary pass, which looked sure to be forward to winger Daniel Reid, who to-poked it forward and scored in the corner.

The Goulburn defence stood in shock but the referee awarded the try to the home side. Horvat moved in and nailed another kick from the sideline to make it 24-12 with 25 minutes remaining.

Ron Leapai continued to show his individual brilliance, causing havoc down the right-edge for his Goulburn side.

Leapai challenged the Queanbeyan defence on fourth tackle, when he bounced off a couple of Kangaroos to put his fullback Dillon Rota over untouched to extend their lead. Hart converted to give the visitors a healthy 28-18 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Goulburn continued their dominance in the final 20 minutes, placing more pressure on the Queanbeyan side.

Goulburn put boot to ball and forced a Queanbeyan error through a strong kick chase, which landed in the arms of Leapai who bagged a try of his own to put this contest out of reach. Hart continued his strong afternoon with the boot, converting to force the scoreline to 34-18 with eight minutes remaining.

Ron Leapai capped off his amazing individual performance, strolling over for a simple try on the right-edge to lead his side to a big win over the Queanbeyan Kangaroos. Fulltime scores, 38-18 to the Goulburn City Bulldogs.