Gundagai Tigers have backed up last weekends impressive performance with a 56-10 demolition of Young Cherrypickers at Alfred Oval in Young on Saturday.
With both sides completing sets at a high percentage early in the contest, the Tigers struck first through Sailusi Temaka, who was the beneficiary of a pinpoint Derek Hay cross-field kick.
Temaka made it a double not long after registering his first four-pointer, before Jake Kambos crossed for Young to leave the Gundagai leading 8-6.
Gundagai made life hard for themselves at times in the first half by giving away unnecessary penalties.
But as has been the case all season, the Tigers defence was a strong point, turning the Cherrypickers away on numerous occasions.
Just as it looked like both sides would head to the sheds with only two points separating them, Tigers centre Gabriel Gul split Young’s defence through the middle to extend Gundagai’s lead to 14-6 at the break.
Whatever was said by Tigers coach Hayden Ashcroft and his coaching staff in the dressing rooms at half-time had the desired effect, with the visitors scoring three tries in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Ashcroft scored the first after he helped create a line-break with a deft pass, Hay got himself on the scoresheet and Tyron Gorman finished off a strong Jack Elphick run.
Pushing themselves out to a 32-6 lead, the Tigers were then guilty of making repeated errors and gifting Young quality field position.
The Tigers eventually overcame their handling woes to wrestle back momentum, as Hay scored his second for the afternoon, swooping on a James Luff kick that was left to bounce by Young’s back three.
Young’s frustration at Gundagai’s dominance boiled over, leaving them with just 11 players, as their discipline continued to let them down.
Will Herring sliced through the Cherrypickers defence while they were thin on numbers, before Temaka scored his third and fourth for the game.
Temaka has now scored 13 tries for the season in just seven matches for the Tigers and looms as a definite X-factor for Gundagai as they progress into the finals series.
This Saturday, the Tigers host Temora Dragons, in a game that will decide the minor premiership for 2026 with the winner also receiving the week’s rest in week one of the finals.
Both sides are in scintillating form coming into the clash, with Anzac Park to host a blockbuster on Saturday afternoon.
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