The Redbacks will be hoping for a large local crowd to cheer on a team that are coming off their first win of the season with a comprehensive 44-0 drubbing of ADFA on the weekend.

This inaugural event will be attended by Deputy Premier John Barilaro who, being a big Redbacks supporter, may bring his boots for a cameo run on!

The new lights at the Rec Ground will offer the local sporting community fantastic options for the conduct of night games, especially with the growing sports of soccer and rugby where game scheduling problems will likely be resolved.

Additionally, junior rugby may also benefit from the new lights providing an additional Friday night option for games in Braidwood, reducing the weekly Friday night drive into Goulburn for Redback parents.

There will be a Braidwood summer touch footy comp commencing at the Rec Ground on 20 September with the new lights enabling the conduct of an corresponding winter competition.

If you are interested in entering or joining a team for the summer comp, please contact Madi at Braidwood Rural.

Saturday saw a big day of footy with the mighty Braidwood/Goulburn Harlequins Under 14 side notching up a hard fought win against a spirited Grammar Under 14 side.

The Harlequins (comprised of players from Crookwell, Goulburn and Braidwood) were the curtain raiser before the Braidwood Redbacks and ADFA main game.

The weather seemed to improve at kick off and the field looked fast. From the start, the game was physical and both teams showed they were up for a solid contest.

The Harlequins forwards showed good cohesion and we are now starting to see the skills and teamwork develop at a rapid pace.

Overall, the game was well contested and the pace was quick and both teams showed no fear in running the ball.

The Harlequins capitalised on some quick phases and moved the ball wide and were first to score.

At half time the Harlequins were in front, and in the second half Grammar started throwing everything at the boys.

The boys continued to step up physically and we are now seeing some good combinations as a team. At times both teams played the game in the middle of the field, and tried to grind each other down.

The Harlequins got the ball to the backs and made some excellent metres.

In a 24 to 10 victory to the Harlequins, Jai Moorby  and Finn Gibson scored two tries each and Angus Smith kicked two conversions.

The tackling is improving and the boys should be really proud of their efforts as their commitment and hard work is paying off.

The game was played in a great spirit, and both teams should be commended.

Best and Fairest: Three points went to Angus Smith, two points Digby Bell and one point Finn Gibson. Next week the Harlequins are playing Daramalan at 11.30pm at Rugby Park, Addison St Goulburn.

The seniors then took the field looking for the first win of the season against a young fit ADFA side.

Bolstered by veterans Tom Watson and Billy Halligan the Redbacks, as they have done now for a number of weeks, immediately went on the attack up the middle with bullet like precision through captain Cade Graf and prop Luke Cumming.

Missing second rower Gus Sherriff to illness, Josh McNamara and Joel Jordon with foot injuries and Ben Elliot who was overseas eloping, Leland Blyton moved into the second row with veteran Nick Blackmore moving to hooker.

On the back of the strong forward play the Redbacks notched up their first try to Tom Watson and the team never looked back from that point.

The Redbacks started to throw the ball around the backline and were soon rewarded with more points resulting from strong carries by Harry Shoemark and Robbie Bell.

Taking a very unfamiliar 28-0 lead into the break the Redbacks continued to attack in the second half notching up more points to take the game by 44 points to nil.

The highlights of the second half came from an exceptional try to veteran Billy Halligan who could have been 18 again as the dived over the line, and Nathan Moffitt who backed up a sleek loose forward movement and sprinted 110 metres to land the ball under the black dot.

Other try scorers included a double to Harry Shoemark and big Luke Cumming with his first five-pointer of the season.

ADFA to their credit did not stop trying for the whole game and themselves landed some very big hits in defence.

Three points went to Cade Graf, two points to Leland Blyton and one point to Bill Hatzis, Players player was shared by Luke Turner and the sleek Buzz McGloan.

See you all at the Rec Ground for the Friday night extravaganza against the Batemans Bay Boars with a kick off scheduled for 7:00pm.