Gundagai Tigers have kept their Minor Premiership hopes alive, defeating South City Bulls 40-18 on Saturday at Harris Park in Wagga.
The Bulls, who were celebrating their 2016 premiership over the Tigers, jumped out to an early lead courtesy of some individual brilliance from Matt Lyons.
After removing the emotion from the match, the Tigers began to find some momentum and a classy piece of deception around the ruck saw Tyron Gorman score.
Gundagai’s second try was a superb long range effort from Gabriel Gul, who beat five defenders from deep inside his own end.
Gul’s score was followed by another skilful bit of work by Gundagai’s attack, with a superb cut out pass by Gorman to Gul, who in turn sent Sailusi Temaka over in the corner and the Tigers had raced to an 18-4 lead.
Lyons got his second after re-gathering a kick, but the Tigers replied swiftly through a Gorman kick that landed in Temaka’s lap and at half-time, the visitors were in front 22-8.
James Luff continued to grow the Tigers’ margin not long into the second half with a scurry from dummy half.
The two sides then traded tries for the remainder of the match, Jesse Fitzhenry and Cody Hodge posting four-pointers for the Bulls, their tries being split by another Gorman try.
Temaka finished off a welcome return to the black and gold by scoring the final try of the day, completing his second hat-trick for the season.
For the Tigers, none were better than Tyron Gorman in an outstanding display at five-eighth, while Gul was dangerous every opportunity he was afforded.
The Tigers are back on the road this weekend, as they travel to Young on Saturday to take on the Cherrypickers, who will be out to make amends for their defeat to Cootamundra last Sunday.
Aaron Byrne
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