Temora Dragons v Albury Thunder The Temora Dragons continue to dominate the try scoring in Group Nine notching another 11 in their big 64-4 win over the Albury Thunder at Greenfields Park on Sunday. Temora’s win down on the border sees them move into second place, one behind the Gundagai Tigers on the Premiership ladder after Round 6. The Dragons dominated the game after scoring their first points after only four minutes and from that point on were regular visitors to the Thunder’s tryline to lead by halftime 30-4. Again, the Temora three-quarter line were prominent in this game scoring eight of their tries with fullback Hamish Starr, five eighth Lachie Cole and centre Brandon Nima scoring a double as did forward Sam Burley. Starr presently leads the Group Nine scoring list with 11 tries from six games with Lachie Cole on six and Brandon Nima on five. With the Dragons win there is a log jam at the top of the points ladder with only one point separating five clubs which makes for an interesting seventh round in a fortnight’s time, when the first placed Gundagai meet Temora at Nixon Park on Saturday 13 June after next weekend’s King’s Birthday general bye. Other games that weekend see the third placed Young travel to Wagga Kangaroos (7th), Cootamundra (4th) host South City Bulls (5th) with all these playing a vital part in the make up of the top five leading into the last round at the halfway mark of the competition. While the Dragons were so dominant in the try scoring another stand out feature from Sunday’s game was the 10 from 11 goals kicked by halfback Jake McGovern, making his tally to date 35. In the earlier games at Albury the previously undefeated Dragons Reserve Grade team went down 30-12 to the also undefeated Thunder team. In the Weissel Cup the Dragons played some of their best football for the season for a convincing 32-16 result while in the League Tag an undermanned Dragons team came from being down 8-0 to remain undefeated at 14-8 after losing Jackelyn Hughes prior to kick off and Nia Block (ankle) and Nicola Henman (finger) during the game. In the main fixture played before a big crowd at Greenfields Park, after defending on their own line from the kick off, Temora made the most of a Thunder kick and runs by Cameron-Pani and Philp, a drop out by the home team saw a Hughes run to Albury’s 40 led to quick passing sending Starr over wide out and with the conversion after only three minutes Temora led 6-0. Ten minutes later Albury hit back through second rower Duncan scored after a Temora knockdown 20 metres from their tryline, but with the conversion attempt waved away Temora held a narrow two-point lead at 6-4. From this point Albury were having trouble getting out of their own half with the Dragons forwards standing out in defence. Albury were forced to kick to Starr on his 20 from where runs by winger James McKinnon and Mirtchin to the opposition 40 and from a turnover Jimmy Stewart charged down an Albury kick on their 20 metres and scored in a handy position for McGovern to convert, extending Temora’s lead to 12-4 after 20 minutes. Strong runs by Reardon, Philp, Hughes and Nima took play into the opposition half and after pinning the Thunder in goal a drop out led to Temora’s next try with McKinnon scoring following up a kick in goal. McGovern added the extras and after 26 minutes Temora’s lead was now out to 18-6. At this stage Sam Burley replaced Hughes at lock. Temora lost the ball after a Thunder kick to their tryline. Shortly after runs by Nima, Philp, Madden and Reardon took play to midfield. David White replaced Madden in front row while a penalty to the home side saw them deep in the Dragons half and Temora defending desperately on their own line. Two consecutive penalties set Temora up for their next try with Nima on the end of some great football out wide and with the conversion Temora led 24-4. Two minutes later the Dragons were in again a minute out from halftime with Burley making a break to send Cole over under the posts for Temora to lead 30-4. After a good start to the second half with White making a break from the kick off, it only took five minutes for the Dragons to stretch the lead to 36-4 after a Cole break led to Burley touching down under the posts. It was all Temora at this stage following a break by Mirtschin who went to ground with a number of players in support on Albury’s 40. Further runs by Reardon, Stewart and Burley before the Thunder were again forced to drop out only to see Temora knock on, forcing them to defend in their own half. Another Albury drop out to the midfield led Temora’s next points after a Cole run deep in the opposition half with Starr going over for his second try and with the conversion the scoreboard now read 42-4 in favour of the Dragons. Almost immediately from the kick off Temora were in again after a White carry and a Hughes long break in midfield. A quick play the ball led to Cole racing away for his second try and with McGovern’s kick after 20 minutes Temora’s lead was out to 48-4. Another long break by the visitors led to a kick in goal forcing yet another drop out by the Thunder which ended with Philp scoring beside the posts and with the two extra points Temora’s lead was blowing out at 54-4. With 10 minutes remaining it was Nima who put Temora further ahead after the Dragons sent the ball wide, with the try scored in the corner and a successful goal giving the Dragons a 60-4 lead. Temora’s final points came with only minutes left and after being camped in Albury’s half, it was Sam Burley going over in the corner and with McGovern missing his first goal for the game, Temora had wrapped up the game easy winners at 64-4. Once again, in a game where plenty of points were scored, Temora had good players all over the park. The forwards dominated from the outset and laid the foundations for the Dragons’ big win, especially with their strong defence. Their dominance allowed the backs to score virtually at will. Point scorers in the match were: Temora 64 Tries: H. Starr 2, L. Cole 2, B. Nima 2, S. Burley 2, J. Stewart, J. McKinnon, N. Philp Goals: J. McGovern 10 Albury Thunder 4 Try: H. Duncan Penalties: 5–5. Minor Grade Results Reserve Grade: Albury Thunder 30 Tries: B. Ford 2, J. Ercegovic, K. Seruisanov, L. Higoe, B. Young Goals: K. Wighton 2, B. Ford Temora 12 Tries: R. Cain, Z. Starr Goals: Z. Starr 2 Weissel Cup Temora 32 Tries: B. Purcell 2, C. Hawksworth, C. Gersbach, C. Gallagher, J. Haisell Goals: J. Durham 4 Albury Thunder 16 Tries: H. Carroll 2, J. Bowers Goals: Z. Cameron-Pani 2 League Tag Temora 14 Tries: R. Wilsmith, S. Bowley Goals: E. Perrot 3 Albury Thunder 8 Tries: J. Harris, Georgia Farrington. Round 6 Group Nine Competition Ladders First Grade Team Points Gundagai 9 Temora 8 Young 8 Cootamundra 8 South City 8 Junee 6 Kangaroos 6 Albury 4 Tumut 2 Brothers 1 Reserve Grade Team Points Albury 12 Temora 10 South City 9 Kangaroos 7 Young 6 Gundagai 6 Brothers 4 Junee 2 Cootamundra 2 Tumut 0 Weissel Cup Team Points South City 12 Young 10 Brothers 10 Kangaroos 8 Gundagai 6 Albury 4 Tumut 4 Temora 4 Cootamundra 1 Junee 1 Women's Tackle Team Points Brothers 12 Junee 12 South City 8 Young 6 Tumut 6 Temora 5 League Tag Team Points Temora 12 Brothers 10 Cootamundra 9 Tumut 8 Junee 7 Albury 6 Young 4 Gundagai 2 Kangaroos 2 South City 0
