Pat Birch given his NSW Police Rugby League Jersey.
The air at Nixon Park in Temora crackled with a familiar tension. It was Saturday, June 28, 2025, and the Group 9 First Grade clash between the Gundagai Tigers and the Temora Dragons was about to kick off. The travelling faithful had made the pilgrimage, a sea of black and gold mixed uneasily with the Dragons’ red and white. There was a buzz of anticipation, a nervous hope that today, the Tigers would reclaim their roar.
From the first whistle, it was clear this contest would not be easy. Temora, playing on their home turf, emerged with an intensity that matched the crowd’s energy. The Tigers met them head-on. Every collision was bone-jarring, every burst forward a desperate surge. Supporters applauded every meter gained, every defensive stop, their voices hoarse with encouragement.
The Dragons, however, seemed to benefit from a touch of fortune in the first half. A few swift tries, one appearing somewhat lenient, put them ahead. It wasn’t that Gundagai’s defence was lacking, but perhaps a bounce here, a narrow margin there, just favoured their adversaries. The Tiger squad dug deep, Toby Dasey, Will Herring, and Meli Drau leading the charge, striving to penetrate the resilient Temora line.
A glimmer of hope emerged as the team clawed back some points, indicating a brief shift in momentum. The effort was immense, and the commitment was undeniable. But as the final whistle sounded, the final tally confirmed what sinking hearts already knew: Temora Dragons 22, Gundagai Tigers 12.
It was a tough defeat, no doubt. The result did not entirely convey the full story of the grind, the sheer physicality of the encounter, or the unyielding determination of the Gundagai players. Observers noted the grit in their eyes, and the exhaustion on their faces, and understood they had expended every effort on that pitch.
Gundagai Tigers coach Aaron Gorrell didn’t mince words after the game, acknowledging that the team’s performance wasn’t up to par.
“We were just off on the day, unfortunately. I think it’s been coming for a couple of weeks, to be honest. We probably got out of jail two weeks in a row,” Gorrell stated.
“Temora is just too good a side to go in with the attitude that you are just going to come away with the two points regardless of performance.”
Gorrell highlighted areas for improvement, including their goal-kicking, though he offered no excuses. “We missed goals, but we’ve got no excuses, they turned up and we didn’t, they got the two points.”
He stressed the importance of learning from the loss, noting that close wins can sometimes mask underlying issues.
“I hope we can come out of the game having learnt something, when you win close games and you’re not at your best I don’t think you take the lessons out of it.”
The coach emphasised the need for individual accountability and a more collective effort. “Hopefully we can take some lessons out of it. It was a fairly strict training Tuesday night. The problems are nothing we can’t fix. It’s just individuals turning up ready to play and play for every player instead of sitting in the back and waiting for an opportunity.
We’ve got to make sure that we are enforcing our hand and putting the sides of the sword and making them earn the two points.”
Despite the defeat, Gorrell remained confident in his team’s potential. “In saying all this, we were in the game and if a couple of things went our way we still probably win. I do not doubt that we’re a quality side it’s about squeezing every bit of consistency out of the lads that I can.”
Looking ahead, Gorrell pointed to critical areas for improvement as they prepare for their next challenge against the Wagga Roos. “We need to improve our ball control and our attitude. We are going to have to be at our best as they (Wagga Roos) are a good side. If we come out like we did on the weekend, we are in for a long day.”
He views tough matchups as crucial for growth. “I think the challenging games are perfect. It makes us work harder and if you come up against one of the lower teams you have a chance of getting a false gauge of how you are travelling. I think it’s the perfect opportunity for us to stand up and push to know where we are at and build a bit of confidence going into the next few weeks.”
Certainly, the Dragons secured the points today, and credit is due for their robust performance. However, for the Gundagai faithful, this was not just a reverse; it was a battle fought with considerable pride. The team will regroup, analyse what could have been, and look forward to the next occasion the Tigers take the field. Because that unwavering spirit, that black and gold heart, will always beat strong. The players are expected to learn from this and return even hungrier. The Group 9 season is long, and the Gundagai Tigers are far from finished.
Temora Dragons (22) tries, Billy Reardon, Will McDermott and Jock Ward (2) def Gundagai Tigers (12) tries, Meli Drau, James Morgan and Toby Dasey. Conversions Temora Jared McKinnon 3/4. Gundagai Will Herring 0/3.
-Tully Potts
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