After a 20-year hiatus the Temora Dragons have qualified for the Group Nine Grand Final at GEOHEX Stadium next Sunday after a heart-stopping 22-18 win over the South City Bulls. It was a game of two completely different halves with the Wagga club dominating the first, scoring three converted tries to lead 18 nil at halftime. Whatever the Dragons coach said to them at the break had the desired effect as they held the Bulls for the remainder of the game while running in four tries, three which were converted. Weissel Medal winner, Hamish Starr scored two exceptional tries, the second from a high kick to the South City tryline where he went high to regather the ball with his try breaking the 18-nil deadlock with only 10 minutes remaining. The first half was all South City with their five eighth Nathan Rose continuing his good form of recent weeks with him scoring two tries but he went missing in the second term. The Dragons put themselves under pressure early when they knocked on a high kick in the corner and minutes later, they missed a scoring chance with a forward pass from Jimmy Hare in midfield. Shortly after the Bulls made the most of some poor defence by Temora following a kick that saw centre Cody Hodge regather to score and with Josh Siegwart converting the Bulls were off to a 6-0 lead. Temora was penalised for a dangerous tackle which saw the Bulls lose possession on Temora’s 40. The scrum runs by Brodie Mirtschin and Will McDermott broke down with a loose pass. Shortly after the Bulls scored an easy try with Rose racing down the sideline from 40 metres out and with the conversion at the 14-minute mark South City’s lead was out to 12-0. Strong runs by Brandon Nima, Hayden Philp and Hamish Starr gave the Dragons hope that after a “6 again” ruling Temora turned the ball over on the opposition’s 20. Jimmy Stewart was under a high kick to his 30 but shortly after Temora were caught offside. Grant Hughes and Zac Starr replaced Josh McCrone and Tyler Madden midway through the half, and both were involved with some stout defence. Runs by Philp and Billy Reardon before Temora put ball down on halfway. Runs by Nima, Hughes, Joan Vere and Zac Starr and with 10 minutes remaining in the half the Bulls hit back when they swept the ball across the back for Rose to score and with the conversion the Bulls stretched their lead to 18-0. For the remainder of the half the Dragons defence was tested as South City moved the ball across the field but Temora made ground when in possession with Nima making a number of half breaks. Prior to halftime Bulls number 11 was “sin binned” for a late hit on Jake McGovern after a kick downfield. Temora started strongly in the second half kicking the ball dead and from the 20-tap Vere, Zac Starr, Hughes and Madden all stood out in defence. Two quick penalties to Temora saw runs by Philp, Mirtschin, Hughes and Nima lead to the Dragons being tackled out in the corner. Dave White replaced Philp at the 10-minute mark and shortly after Jake McGovern picked up a loose ball and after some scrappy football close to the Bulls line Mirtschin split the defence to score, and after 15 minutes the Dragons trailed 18-6. From this point on the Dragons lifted and were prepared to move the ball around and looked dangerous on a number of occasions and midway through the half from strong runs by Stewart and Reardon, Hamish Starr was on hand to crash over through some poor Bulls defence. McGovern converted and after 22 minutes Temora were within striking distance with the score 18-12 to the Bulls. Despite Temora knocking on from the restart they regained their composure and looked to move the ball wide at every opportunity, building confidence. Temora drew level after 27 minutes with Mirtschin finding himself in a big hole in the Bulls defence to score and with McGovern’s conversion it was suddenly 18-all. With the big contingent of Temora supporters in the crowd urging them on, runs by White, Josh McCrone, Philp and Nima, Temora lifted and from a high kick to the tryline Hamish Starr went high to regather and crash over but McGovern failed to convert and Temora led by four points at 22-18 with 10 minutes remaining. In the countdown to the siren Temora’s defence was tested as a penalty to the Bulls in midfield then Temora knocking-on on their line added to the pressure the Dragons were under and despite Nima being injured the Dragons held on to run out narrow winners 22-18 and ensure their place in next Sunday’s Grand Final where they will meet the Gundagai Tigers. As well as Hamish Starr standing out for the Dragons others to have big games were Billy Reardon, Brandon Nima, Lachie Cole, Hayden Philp, Will McDermott, Grant Hughes, Joan Vere, Brodie Mirtschin and Zac Starr. Points in the game came from: Temora 22: Tries: H. Starr 2, B. Mirtschin, B. Reardon. Goals: J. McGovern 3/4. South City 18: Tries: N. Rose 2, C. Hodge. Group Nine Preliminary Finals – Other Results Reserve Grade: Albury 20 defeated Kangaroos 18 Women’s Tackle: Junee 22 defeated South City 16 Weissel Cup: Kangaroos 10 defeated South City 6 League Tag: Temora 42 defeated Cootamundra 4 Temora tries: Molly McCrone 2, Matilda McCrone, B. McDermott, S. Bowley, L. Block, E. McCrone. Goals: E. Perrot 6/7. Cootamundra try: W. Hall.
