A converted try in the final minute of the game saved the Dragons from an embarrassing result against the Cootamundra Bulldogs at Les Boyd on Sunday. The win sees Temora remain in third place behind Gundagai and Young, but it was a game they will need to have learned from after a performance in which they should have had wrapped up midway through the first half. Poor options and ball handling by the Dragons kept the Bulldogs in the game and they nearly pulled off a repeat of their round one game at Nixon Park when they pulled off an unexpected win, 32-24, in a game Temora were favourites to win. The Dragons were aided by four big penalty counts in their favour but were unable to turn them into points. Again, the Dragons were guilty of turning the ball back into the forwards and failed to make the most of the speed they have in the three-quarter line. When they did move it wide, as it showed in the match-winning try on the siren, on the back of some quick ball movement. Round 10 results in Group Nine shows how close the 2026 competition is with four of the five games decided by no more than four points. Gundagai remain on top of the premiership ladder after only a two-point win over the Junee Diesels, who have moved into fifth place equal to Cootamundra on 6th after their narrow loss to Temora. Second placed Young, who the Dragons meet next Sunday at Alfreds Oval, smashed the fourth placed South City 43-10 while in a battle for the wooden spoon Tumut defeated the Wagga Brothers 18-16 at Twickenham. In the earlier games at Cootamundra the Dragons Reserve Grade continued their good form with a big 56-4 result to remain in second place behind the Albury Thunder, while in the Weissel Cup Temora went down narrowly 18-12. In what must be an upset the Dragons League Tag were never really in this game and trailed from the start going down 16-4 but still remain in second place behind Wagga Brothers on 16 points. In the main fixture at Les Boyd Oval Temora went into the game without their powerhouse front rower, Hayden Philp, who had an infected tooth, and was replaced by Zac Starr. It took Temora only six minutes to put the first points on the board which came after the Bulldogs were penalised for lifting in a tackle on halfway. Temora made the most of possession and moved the ball wide to winger Brodie Foster who scored in the corner for the Dragons to lead 4-0. Cootamundra kept pressure on the Dragons on the back of three quick penalties before knock-ons robbed the Dragons of a scoring chance down the middle of the field. Midway through the half Temora missed a great scoring opportunity when Zac Starr was on the end of a forward pass ruling inside the Bulldogs' 10 metres. The Bulldogs took the lead with Temora missing a tackle in midfield, with Ned Murray racing away for a long-range try. James Paterson converted for the home team to lead 6-4. Temora missed another great scoring chance on the back of a penalty in midfield, and a Tyler Madden run that led to a "6 Again" ruling, but just when they looked dangerous they dropped the ball on the Cootamundra 20 metre line. The Bulldogs made the most of this let off with the No. 7 and No. 6 combining for halfback Jack Ward to score from 20 metres out. With the conversion by Luke Buckley the home team extended their lead to 12-4. Two penalties to the Dragons late in the half saw them move the ball wide for Hamish Starr to score with two minutes on the clock and with McGovern's conversion Cootamundra's lead was cut to 12-10. From the restart of the second half Temora started dreadfully, knocking on the kick deep in their own half. A penalty to Temora for pinching the ball, Temora lost the ball on the first run to Cootamundra’s 20 then shortly after it was Brandon Nima lost possession 20 metres out from the tryline. Shortly after the Bulldogs "bombed" a try in the corner and minutes later were penalised for a "lifting tackle" on Temora's 30. Ten minutes into the half Temora spoilt a great scoring chance losing the ball wide but loose passes and poor options were robbing the Dragons of chances to score. Fifteen minutes into the half Temora regained the lead with Billy Reardon on hand to make the most of a Bulldogs knock-on to score, but McGovern was astray with the conversion attempt, with the score favouring Temora 14-12. Midway through the half the Bulldogs regained the lead after Temora were forced to drop out and with the Dragons caught "flat-footed" with second rower Tom Miller on hand to force his way over and with Paterson's conversion with 20 minutes to play Cootamundra led 18-14. Minutes later, on the back of a Cootamundra mistake 20 metres from their tryline, Temora went close to scoring after runs by Brodie Mirtchin and Grant Hughes. Temora were denied a try after they spun the ball wide after the home team put the ball out on the full and play returning to their half. Runs by Lachie Cole and Tyler Madden saw Will McDermott held up. A knock-on in goal led to a Cootamundra 22 tap. The final 10 minutes it was all Temora as they desperately tried to regain the lead, with Temora called back for a forward pass on the Bulldogs' 20 to winger Brodie Foster. Cootamundra were awarded a "6 Again" in midfield before a series of dropped balls by both teams turned the game into a "dropathon". With time just about up Cootamundra were penalised for a high tackle on halfway, but McGovern lost the ball close to the line. A Cootamundra kick to Foster on Temora's 20 saw a Nima run to halfway, and with the clock into the final minute a desperate Temora moved the ball around, going wide, where Hamish Starr was on hand to beat the defence to the line and with the scores locked at 18-18 the pressure was on Jake McGovern, who piloted the ball over for a Temora win 20-18. It was a great win for the Dragons and, although it wasn't the greatest game to watch at times, there were some great performances, none better than front rower Tyler Madden, who got through a power of work, along with fullback Hamish Starr, who was rewarded for his efforts with two tries. Others to stand out were Brodie Foster and Jimmy Stewart on the wings and centre Will McDermott, while others to stand out in the forwards were Billy Reardon, Bailey Wallace, Grant Hughes, David White until injured, and Zac Starr. Points in the game came from: Temora 20 Tries: H. Starr 2, B. Reardon, B. Foster. Goals: J. McGovern 2. Cootamundra 18 Tries: N. Murray, J. Ward, T. Miller. Goals: J. Paterson 2, L. Berkley. Penalties: Temora 11, Cootamundra 5. Minor Grade Results Reserve Grade Temora 56 Tries: S. Carlin 2, C. Lynch 2, A. New, T. New, T. Goode, K. Cameron-Pani, C. Slinger, T. Moroney, R. Neville. Goals: J. McKinnon 5, T. New. Cootamundra 4 Try: B. Derrick Weissel Cup Cootamundra 18 Tries: H. Boxall 3, C. Smart. Goals: H. Boxall. Temora 12 Tries: B. Purcell, N. Breust. Goals: J. Durham 2. League Tag Cootamundra 16 Tries: A. Kelliher 2, M. Gillies. Goals: A. Peacy 2. Temora 4 Try: M. McCrone. Group Nine Premiership Ladders First Grade • Gundagai 16 • Young 15 • Temora 14 • South City 12 • Junee 10 • Cootamundra 10 • Kangaroos 8 • Tumut 6 • Albury 6 • Brothers 3 Reserve Grade • Albury 20 • Temora 16 • South City 15 • Kangaroos 13 • Gundagai 10 • Young 8 • Brothers 8 • Junee 6 • Cootamundra 4 • Tumut 0 Women's Tackle • Brothers 20 • Junee 16 • South City 16 • Young 12 • Temora 9 • Tumut 9 Weissel Cup • South City 18 • Brothers 18 • Kangaroos 15 • Young 15 • Gundagai 12 • Tumut 8 • Temora 4 • Albury 4 • Junee 3 • Cootamundra 3 League Tag • Brothers 18 • Temora 16 • Cootamundra 15 • Tumut 14 • Albury 12 • Junee 11 • Young 8 • Kangaroos 4 • Gundagai 2 • South City 0
