Rangers saved by former team-mate

Goodna and Ipswich players compete at a lineout in Saturday’s Barber Cup clash, won by Ipswich 17-15.

David Nielsen

FORMER Ipswich Ranger and now Goodna Gladiator George Pouvi was the hero for his old club on Saturday, though not in a way he would have wished.

Rangers held on to beat Goodna 17-15 in the Barber Cup clash at Evan Marginson Oval after Pouvi missed a conversion in the dying moments that would have drawn the game.

The win ensures Rangers draw level with the Gladiators in second spot on the ladder.

“I thought it was a draw,” Rangers coach Mike McLean said.

“I could have kicked it so I feel sorry for George.”

Rangers would have felt hard done by with a draw, having led for most of the match, only to see Goodna storm back with two late tries.

Rangers led 8-5 at halftime then 17-5, thanks to two tries to outside centre Tom Dwyer.

“They got their hands on the ball for the last 15 minutes and their forward pack just dominated us, which they hadn’t done all day,” McLean said of the Goodna comeback.

“We made some minor errors and let them back into it.”

Prior to that Rangers looked very much a top-two team, keeping Goodna’s powerful pack at bay and spreading the ball wide.

McLean believes only poor handling stopped them scoring two more tries in the first half.

“We controlled territory and though we never ran away with it, at 17-5 you’re pretty confident,” he said.

“But Goodna are never out of the game and they just kept coming.

“It was a really good game.”

Neither side deviated from their trusted formula.

“Goodna played their typical forward-oriented game,” McLean said.

“We tried to throw the ball about and it worked mostly.”

The coach heaped praise on his skipper and inside centre Cade Hill for leading the way.

“Cade Hill was outstanding,” McLean said.

“He was far and away the best player on the field.

“He was knocking over their big blokes left, right and centre.

“He punched holes in their defence, I reckon about six times.”

The win was Rangers’ third straight, the first time that’s happened in two years, and they are now in a strong position to push on for a top-two spot, having played one game less than Goodna.

Earlier, Rangers’ Pegg Cup team made it a double, defeating Goodna 15-12.

Meanwhile, the Barber Cup game between fourth-placed Pine Rivers and fifth-placed Springfield Lakes was abandoned after 15 minutes.

With Springfield Lakes leading 3-0, the referee fell and twisted his ankle.

The referee was unable to continue.