The Gundagai Tigers made it a “back-to-back” win at Wagga’s GEOHEX Stadium yesterday when they took out the Group Nine Premiership with a 24-16 win over the Temora Dragons. The Tigers dominated the first half with four first half tries that saw them leading 22 to nil by halftime, before the Dragons staged somewhat of a comeback late in the game scoring three late tries. The first half was a horror for Temora in both attack and defence with the Tigers continuing where they left off in the qualifying semi-final earlier when they thumped the Dragons 42-6 at Nixon Park. So dominant were the eventual winners that they nearly scored through centre Gabriel Goll in the opening minutes, and they never looked back from then on. After what looked to be a good start for Temora things began to go astray after they put down a high kick to their 30-metre line. From there it went downhill as nothing seemed to work for them after winger Drew Robinson was tackled in the corner for a turnover. Poor handling by the Dragons saw a knock on inside their 10 after Gundagai put the ball down and from the scrum Goll put the Tigers try on the scoreboard with an easy try when he brushed through defenders to touch down. The conversion was waved away but Gundagai led at 4-0. Shortly after Temora put in a high kick to the tryline and after the Tigers knocked-on at their 20 Temora dropped the ball over the line after a raid from the scrum. Temora were recalled for a forward pass well inside their half and shortly after made strong runs by Sam Burley, Josh McCrone and Hayden Philp before Robinson was pulled down on Gundagai’s 20. Temora put the ball dead for a Tigers “20 tap”. After runs by Bailey Wallace, Jake McGovern and Hamish Starr and a penalty to the Tigers they hit back with the second try when lock Royce Tout went through some poor defence to score between the posts and with the conversion after 27 minutes, Gundagai had gone out to a 10-0 lead. At this stage it was all Gundagai as they launched a number of raids deep in Temora’s half and from one of these Tigers fullback made the most of some “paper thin” defence in the Dragons 10 to score another easy try and with Corey Wilson’s conversion Temora found themselves trailing 16-0 with half time coming up. Gundagai continued to dominate and after being held up over the tryline, losing the ball and then a penalty, they increased their lead with second rower Mick Ashcroft making the most of some poor defence to score and with the successful conversion the Tigers went to halftime with an impressive 22 to 0 lead. Temora started the second half with a strong run by David White but shortly after they were penalised for a high tackle deep in the Tigers half. Gundagai went close to scoring before Temora were forced to drop out. Knock-ons were spoiling the game as a spectacle. Brandon Nima was dangerous with a strong run before runs by Grant Hughes and White took play deep into the opposition’s half. A Tigers kick to Robinson and from a Hughes run he drew a penalty with the Tigers stealing the ball. Further runs by Philp and Nima and a knock on saw Gundagai denied a try in the corner. The Tigers were penalised for holding shortly after, then caught offside on their own 20. From the next play Temora sent the ball wide for Robinson to score in the corner. McGovern converted for Gundagai to lead 22-6 after 20 minutes. With this try Temora lifted and from runs by White, Hughes and Tylor Madden made good ground, minutes later Temora were recalled for a forward pass on Gundagai. Minutes later Temora were able to apply pressure on the Tigers defence after three consecutive penalties which saw Hamish Starr put Billy Reardon over for a great try, but McGovern failed to add the extras for Gundagai to lead 22-10 with 13 minutes remaining on the clock. On the back of another penalty Temora were on the verge of a comeback as five-eighth Lachie Cole scored from a scrum and with the conversion Temora were back within a converted try with the score 22-16 in Gundagai’s favour. Sadly, just as Temora looked like getting on top they were penalised in midfield and with that being turned into points the Tigers had some breathing space with an eight point lead at 24-16. Temora were caught offside late in the game and with the clock ticking down they lost possession with play going the Tigers way. They were able to hang on and run out winners 24-16. It was a disappointing end to the season for the Dragons in front of a big contingent of supporters who made the trip to Wagga in warm conditions. While there were no individual stand out players in the game they all were involved at some stage and there were no injuries. Points in the game came from: Gundagai 24 Tries: G. Goll, R. Tout, W. Herring, M. Ashcroft. Goals: C. Wilson 4 Temora 16 Tries: D. Robinson, B. Reardon, L. Cole. Goals: J. McGovern 2 Penalties: Temora 9, Gundagai 7. In the earlier games at Wagga, Temora had a mixed day. The Dragons defeated their arch enemy, the Wagga Brothers, winning 18-6. Temora had set up a 12-0 lead by half time after tries by Emily Perrot and Sophie Bowley in the 17th and 19th minutes with Perrot landing both conversions. Perrot’s try came after quick ball movement across the field while Bowley scored a long range try after a Molly McCrone break, finding Rommy Wilesmith in support. The second half was only four minutes old when Molly McCrone stepped her way through defenders from 30 metres out and with Perrot’s conversion Temora had extended their lead to 18-0. The Brothers scored what was to be their only points after 11 minutes with their centre Maisie Freemantle scoring after the Dragons were forced to defend for a long time. Brooke Nugget converted for the Dragons to run out 18-6 winners. The win was another great team effort which sees the Dragons win their fourth in five years. Speedster Molly McCrone topped off a great season by scoring over 100 tries by being awarded the Leo McCarthy Medal for the best player in the grand final. In the Reserve Grade grand final the Dragons went into the game with two wins over the Albury Thunder in their last two games, 18-10 in round 15 and 18-12 in the major semi-final, but were unable to continue that winning streak, going down 18-12 in warm conditions. Despite trailing 12-6 at halftime Temora always remained in striking distance of the Thunder who were a much bigger team than the Dragons. Albury took only four minutes to open the scoring in what was a soft try with centre Andrew Smith touching down for Keanan Wrighton to convert and Thunder to lead 6-0. At the 14th minute mark, the Thunder then went further ahead with fullback Jordon Ercegovic scoring and a successful conversion to extend their lead to 12-0. Temora hit back on halftime with a great team try to Jarrod McKinnon after a break by Riley Neville. McKinnon added the extras and they went to the break trailing 12-6. The second half was a tight affair, and it wasn’t until the 23-minute mark that the Thunder were able to put their stamp on the game with winger Noah Sead scoring following a Temora drop out and with the conversion the Thunder led 18-6. Not to be denied the Dragons hit back with eight minutes remaining with second rower Charlie Bent powering his way over from 20 metres out and with McKinnon converting Temora were back within a converted try but the Thunder were able to hold on for a 18-12 result. Point scorers in the game were – Albury Thunder 18 Tries: A. Smith, N. Sead, J. Ercegovic Goals: K. Wrighton 3 Temora 12 Tries: J. McKinnon, C. Bent Goals: J. McKinnon 2
