The Braidwood Servicemen's Club rugby league team defeated Goulburn Exchange 22 points to 14 in the minor semi final held at Harden on Saturday. The game started in real finals fashion with solid grinding encounters from both teams. First points went to Braidwood's Matty McCarthy mid way through the first half after the Bears forced a line drop out from their opponents and capitalised on the extra possession. The try was converted by Josh Turnbull. Next to score were the opposition five minutes out from half time after their turn with a run of possession and Braidwood suffering a case of the dropsy's. Half time Bears 6 Goulburn 4.

Goulburn obviously had a solid overhaul at oranges, coming out with all guns blazing and were in under the posts after only four minutes and again at the fifteen minute mark after two very clever 40/20 line kicks. With Goulburn on fire and the Bears struggling, winger Jesse Harris scored a sharp try in the corner at the mid way mark of the half to give the Bears a sniff with the score at 10 - 14. It only took a further five minutes for the experienced Matty McCarthy to spark some magic with a neat grubber kick for a flying Pig Guihot and a successful conversion saw the invigorated Bears two points in front. From that time the Braidwood lads consolidated and were further rewarded in the dying stages with a try by the ever busy Hacker. Bruce Stuart building scoreboard saw Bears 22, Goulburn Exchange 14.

In a game that needed the best, the best got going. Players player Adam Hacker followed by equal points to Billy Halligan and Matt McCarthy took charge. Other notable performances in a top team effort came from organiser Paul Stuart, tackling machine Backy, workaholic Pig, big Whitey and the centre paring of Scotty Bakos and Josh Turnbull. Thanks to game day sponsor and Bears stalwart Steve Hockey from Hockeys Braidwood.

Next week sees the Bears take on arch rivals Bungendore Tigers at Binalong. In the other semi, Binalong take on their neighbours Harden.