With the Group Nine competition’s Minor Premiership on the line, the Temora Dragons face a tough road trip to Anzac Park on Saturday where they will play the defending premiers, the Gundagai Tigers, in the final round. Both the Dragons and the Tigers are on top of the competition ladder, but Temora are currently in first place with a better for and against, 551/260 to 438/205. They both have a similar record for the season, Temora having losses to three clubs, Cootamundra, Gundagai and South City, while the Tigers lost two games, Junee and Albury Thunder, and drew against Young and Kangaroos. Both teams go into next Saturday’s game after big wins the previous week, Temora defeating Albury 64-10 at Nixon Park while Gundagai thumped Young 56-10 at Alfred Oval. Should Temora win they will have the next week off, while Gundagai would play the third placed Junee at Anzac Park on Sunday, 30 August, with Young hosting whoever finishes in fifth spot, Kangaroos, South City or Cootamundra, in the elimination semi-final. If Gundagai win next Sunday, Temora will host the Junee Diesels at Nixon Park the following Sunday with the winner to play in the major semi-final the following weekend. The Dragons go into this game with two players under an injury cloud. Five-eighth Lachie Cole, who was injured in a late tackle early in the game against the Thunder, while winger Brodie Foster, who has been out for a number of weeks after being injured in a Police Representative game. Cole has currently scored 13 tries and is second to fullback Hamish Starr. Temora will need to be wary of the Tigers winger Sailusi Temaka, who scored three tries in his first game and four last Saturday for the Tigers at Nixon Park in round seven. After being out for a number of weeks Dragons front rower Hayden Philp is expected to take his place in the scrum where his experience will be a big plus. The inform Hamish Starr will again start at fullback with Jimmy Stewart and possibly Drew Robinson on the wings. Depending on Cole’s fitness, Will McDermott and Brandon Nima in the centres. If Cole is out either McDermott could move to number six or Will Dean brought in to cover that position. In the scrum Tyler Madden will again partner Philp in the front row with the inform Bailey Wallace at hooker. The back row will be made up of Billy Reardon and Brodie Mirtschin with Sam Burley at lock. The interchange will come from Grant Hughes, David White, Yoan Veve, Zac Starr and Riley Craw. With Gundagai not fielding a Ladies Tackle team there will be only four games on Saturday’s programme. In Reserve Grade Temora, in second place, face a Tigers team on the edge of the five who will be desperate to win and continue their strong history in this grade in recent seasons. The Weissel game clash could be interesting depending on what Temora team turns up. In recent weeks they have played their best football and if they continue that form an upset is not beyond them. The League Tag game should be a training run for the Dragons who demolished the Tigers 62-0 at Nixon Park and at this stage look like meeting the third placed Cootamundra in their semi-final game. MINOR GRADE TEAMS Reserve Grade Will Dean, Brock Thorp, Nic Bett, Khaileb Cameron-Pani, Tom Moroney, Cody Lynch, James McKinnon, Jeff Mel, Yoan Veve, Riley Craw, Ryan Cain, Zac Starr, Sam Carlin, Charlie Bett, Josh Gillard, Adam New, Chase Sciascia, Tyrone Bushell, Jock Ward, Charles Slinger, Riley Neville. Weissel Cup Bailey Purcell, Ethan Bett, Zach Botha, Matt Knox, Colby Thorp, Clayton Gallagher, Jacob Durham, Bryce Smetana, Alex Levett, Josh Haisell, Jake Rayner, Harrison Yates, Cooper Gersbach, Mitchell Harper, Ned Townsend, Connor Hawksworth, Jimmie Harper, Oscar Amey, Matthew Manning. League Tag Molly McCrone, Maisy McCrone, Sophie Bowley, Alicia Haisell, Milly Murphy, Bella McDermott, Courtney McCrone, Emily Perrot (c/c), Cate Granleese, Nikola Henman, Madeline Morton, Matilda Reardon, Tilly Englert, Lilli Block, McKenna Ward, Kiara Balon, Lizzie Cooper, Mia Block.
