Cherrypickers Edge Out Tigers in Thriller at Alfred Oval
In a nail-biting encounter at Alfred Oval this past Sunday, the Young Cherrypickers triumphed over the Gundagai Tigers with a narrow 22-20 victory. The local crowd was treated to a thrilling display of rugby league, with the lead changing hands multiple times throughout the 80 minutes.
The Tigers were quick to assert their dominance, with Wilson Hamblin crossing the try line just seven minutes into the game. Meli Drau then extended Gundagai’s lead with two quick tries in the 21st and 29th minutes, showcasing the Tigers’ early attacking prowess.
James Morgan added another for Gundagai in the 35th minute, giving them a significant boost before halftime. Will Herring successfully converted two of the Tigers’ four tries.
However, the Cherrypickers were not to be outdone on their home turf. CJ Hill got Young on the scoreboard in the 12th minute, offering a glimmer of hope. As the game wore on, the Cherrypickers found their rhythm. Che Hyslop touched down in the 33rd minute, keeping Young within striking distance.
The second half belonged to the Cherrypickers’ determination. Tom Demeio not only scored a crucial try in the 61st minute but also proved to be instrumental with his boot, successfully converting three of Young’s four tries.
The tension was palpable as the clock wound down, and it was Nyah Freeman who emerged as the hero for the Cherrypickers, scoring the match-winning try in the 77th minute, sending the Alfred Oval faithful into a frenzy.
Gorrell Reflects on Frustrating Loss
Gundagai Tigers coach Aaron Gorrell shared his mixed feelings after the hard-fought match. “It was probably the best first half of the season we’ve played, which makes the result all the more frustrating,” Gorrell lamented. Despite the loss, he saw positives in his team’s resilience. “Between the lack of composure we showed as well as a lack of luck and discipline, we still kept it close, I think, that shows how good a team we are.”
Gorrell singled out some standout performances from his squad. “James Morgan was one of our best again, our two halves (Will) Herring and (Derek) Hay as well” he noted.
“Losing Royce Tout less than 20 minutes into the game did us no favours either, he’s one of our best every week and a big part of the success that we have here, he’ll get it looked into further this week to know the damage.”
Looking ahead, Gorrell acknowledged the importance of the upcoming break.
“We’ve had a pretty good run with injuries this season (touch wood), but even without a lot of them, we’ll use this bye week to recoup and talk more about our expectations for the rest of the season,” he explained.
Despite the narrow defeat, Gorrell remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory.
“We’re heading in the right direction.”
The 22-20 final score reflected a truly competitive match, leaving both teams with plenty to analyse as they look ahead to their next fixtures.
Tully Potts SWST Sports Editor