Temora vs Junee With the Group Nine competition reaching the halfway point this weekend, the Temora Dragons’ position in the top five faces a big challenge at Nixon Park on Sunday where they host the Junee Diesels. The Dragons’ loss to the Gundagai Tigers last Saturday could prove costly as they have dropped from second place and find themselves in fourth spot, with only their great “for and against” keeping them above both the Diesels and the South City Bulls, who are also on eight points. The Diesels will come to Temora confident they can upset the “hot and cold” Dragons and showed they are capable of getting the result they are looking for, with the return of their dual captain/coaches Ben Shea and Chase Bernard, on top of the signing of players Connor Garrety (North Sydney), Neti Lattu, plus former union players Monson Tuvale and local Stu Dundarand. They are the only team to defeat the competition leaders, Gundagai Tigers, and that was at Anzac Park. Temora’s poor form in their last outing was a big disappointment after a good build-up to the top-of-the-ladder clash. The Dragons need to get back to the style of football that saw them in second place until this game. When they throw the ball around, they are capable of scoring tries from anywhere on the field, as their statistics show. Last week against the Tigers there was too much “one out” play, with the ball runner not looking for their support. Temora’s three-quarter line has scored 34 tries to date, with fullback Hamish Starr the leading try scorer on 12. With five-eighth Lachie Cole on six, while both centre Brandon Nima and winger Brodie Foster have five each, yet last Saturday they saw little of the ball and at times had to go looking for it. Penalties and poor ball handling also were a big problem, so if they are to get the points against a team that is “coming for them”, coach Jordon Burley will be looking for more commitment in these two areas. With some doubt around the fitness of centre Jimmy Stewart, who missed the second half of last Saturday’s game after suffering a head knock late in the first half, there could be changes to the starting line-up, with either Will McDermott or Jared McKinnon coming in if the centre is ruled out. The starting line-up should see Hamish Starr at fullback, with the wingers being Brodie Foster and Khalieb Cameron-Pani, with Brandon Nima in the centres, while the halves will be Lachie Cole and Jake McGovern. The forward pack will probably be the same as the previous game, with the front row Hayden Philp, Bailey Wallace and Tyler Madden, with the back three Billy Reardon, Brodie Mirtchin and Grant Hughes. The interchange will come from David White, Sam Burley, Yoan Veve, Zac Starr and Lucas Emblard. There will be five games played at Nixon Park on Sunday, with the undefeated League Tag side starting at 9.45am and they should remain undefeated against a Diesels team sitting in fifth place. The Dragons Weissel Cup side should be too strong for the Diesels and although Temora have only won two games, the hapless Diesels are currently sitting in last place. The Temora Women's Tackle team will get to play in their "stop/go" competition and face a tough opposition in Junee, who are running second on the ladder, having only lost the one game and that was to Brothers. In the Reserve Grade game Temora should be too strong for the Diesels and, coming off their big win over the Gundagai Tigers, the locals should again run in some big points against a team that has been struggling in their games to date. Minor Grade Teams Reserve Grade – 1.05pm Drew Robinson, Brodie Thorp, Nicholas Bett, Tom Moroney, Cody Lynch, James McKinnon, Riley Craw, Yoan Veve, Jeff Mel, Ryan Cain, Zach Starr, Lucas Emblard, Riley Neville, Sam Carlin, Darcy Kelly, Will Stimson, Tom New, Chase Sciascia, Tyrone Bushell, Adam New, and Josh Gillard. Women’s Tackle – 11.55am Rachael Luana, Gav McCabe, Milly Murphy, Lilli Weldon, Alicia Haisell, Jorja Winfield, Natalia Taniwha, Sanera Tanuvasa, Kamryn Wood, Maisy McCrone, Dorcas Frank, Belinda Nima, Charlotte Carlin, Bree Burnett, Ash Burnett, Kindra Byquar, Sarah Murphy, Kayla McKinnon, and Lizzie Cooper. Weissel Cup – 10.45am Bailey Purcell, Connor Hawksworth, Matthew Knox, Clayton Gallagher, Colby Thorp, Josh Haisell, Jacobs Durham, Bryce Smetana, Cooper Gersbach, Mitchell Harper, Jake Rayner, Harrison Yates, Alex Levett, Ethan Bett, Louie Mortimer, Neo Townsend, Jimmie Harper, Zach Booth, Matt Manning, and Oscar Amery. League Tag – 9.45am Molly McCrone, Maisy McCrone, Sophie Bowley, Alicia Haisell, Milly Murphy, Bella McDermott, Emily Perrot, Rommy Wilesmith, Cate Granleese, Madeline Morton, Matilda Reardon, Tilly Engler, McKenna Ward, Kiara Balon, and Lizzie Cooper.
