With the Group Nine competition reaching its penultimate round this weekend seven clubs remain in the chase for a position in the semi-finals in September. With the competition leaders, the Temora Dragons and Gundagai Tigers assured of a place in the top five, the final three positions have been left to the Junee Diesels, Young Cherrypickers, Cootamundra Bulldogs, Wagga Kangaroos and South City Bulls after the Albury Thunder bowed out last weekend after going down 20-14 to Junee who have moved into third place. The Diesels have an ideal finish to the competition proper as they host the Tumut Blues this Sunday then meet the last placed Brothers in the last round and on form should finish in the coveted third place that will give a double chance to qualify. The fourth placed Young needs only to win one of their remaining games, Gundagai at Young or Kangaroos, currently in sixth place also at Alfred Oval, which will leave the fifth spot to be fought out between Cootamundra (5th), Kangaroos (6th) and South City (7th). While both Temora and Gundagai will host a semi-final it will come down to their last round meeting at Anzac Park as to where and when Temora will play. The Dragons will host the Albury Thunder at Nixon Park on Saturday and despite Temora’s big win over the Thunder in Round six at Greenfield Park, winning 66-4, they will need to keep their minds on the job at hand as a win will give them confidence going into their all-important final competition game at Gundagai. The Dragons team to play Albury should be much the same as that that won against Brothers last outing with Hamish Starr at fullback, with Jimmy Stewart, Drew Robinson or Brodie Foster on the wings with Brandon Nima and Will McDermott in the centres with the inform halves Lachie Cole and Jake McGovern working the scrums. Hayden Philp who has been out for a number of weeks is expected to return in the front row where he will partner Tyler Madden with Bailey Wallace at hooker. Billy Reardon and Brodie Mirtschin will make up the second row with Sam Burley at lock, with the interchange coming from Yoan Veve, Grant Hughes, Zac Starr, David White and possibly Riley Craw. In Reserve Grade the Dragons face their strongest game of the season as the Thunder are undefeated in this grade, having defeated Temora 30-12 in their first meeting. A loss by the Dragons could prove costly as they sit only one point ahead of the South City Bulls who play Brothers on Sunday. In the earlier games at Nixon Park the Weissel Cup team will be looking to repeat their Round six win over the Thunder, 32-16, after showing considerable improvement last Saturday against the strong Brothers team. The day’s first game should see Temora too strong for the Thunder League Tag team despite their close call at Greenfields Park with a narrow 14-8 win.
