Group 9 Great Northern Premiership Grand Final – Gundagai Tigers 24 def. Temora Dragons 16
Back row: ball boys Jakeb Bell, Vann Reichel, Manager Mark Elphick, Joe Tahaafe, Meli Drau, Royce Tout, Hayden Ashcroft, Sheldon Diaz, Nick McDonald, Benjy Hannan, Wilson Hamblin, Sailusi Temaka, Jack Elphick, Craig Makeham, Kay Makeham, Peter Stevens and Tash Flanagan.
Front Row: Gabriel Gul, Derek Hay, James Luff, James Morgan, Pat Birch, Corey Wilson, Tyron Gorman, Will Herring, Mark Asquith, Paul Crane, Mitch Goodsall, John Catling, Jeff Keogh.
The Gundagai Tigers have cemented their place as one of Group 9’s most successful sides after producing a commanding first-half performance and then showing enormous defensive resolve to claim back-to-back Group 9 Great Northern Premierships at Geohex Stadium on Sunday.
In a grand final befitting the two standout sides of the regular season, the Tigers held their nerve when it mattered most to defeat the Temora Dragons 24-16 and once again lift the premiership trophy.
Having been crowned premiers last season, Gundagai entered Sunday’s decider with plenty of confidence after earning direct passage into the grand final by defeating the Dragons 42-6 in the major semi-final just two weeks earlier.
But there was always going to be a vastly different challenge awaiting the Tigers in a grand final, with Temora having fought its way back into the decider and determined to make amends for that heavy defeat.
The opening exchanges reflected exactly what was expected from a grand final between two evenly matched sides.
Neither team was prepared to give an inch, with both sides feeling each other out as the intensity of the occasion began to settle.
Once the Tigers found their rhythm, however, they began to take control. Gundagai’s pressure started to build and the Tigers were eventually rewarded when Gabriel Gul crashed over following a well-executed scrum play to open the scoring.
The premiers continued to apply pressure and soon had their second try, with Royce Tout finding a way over from close range to extend Gundagai’s advantage.
With the Tigers beginning to find plenty of room in attack, James Morgan produced some classy work to create the opportunity for Will Herring, who finished off the movement to send Gundagai further in front.
The Tigers were now firmly in control and another clever attacking raid provided the next breakthrough.
James Luff spotted an opportunity down the short side and his raid created the opening for Mark Asquith to cross the line, giving Gundagai a commanding 22-0 lead heading into half-time.
It was a first-half performance that showed exactly why the Tigers had been one of Group 9’s benchmark sides throughout the season.
But Temora was never going to surrender its premiership hopes without a fight.
The Dragons knew they needed to be the first side to score after the break and managed to do exactly that, with Drew Robinson crossing with just over a quarter of the match remaining.
Suddenly, the contest had taken on a completely different complexion.
Temora continued to throw everything at the Tigers and, when Billy Reardon and Lachie Cole both found their way over, the Dragons had remarkably reduced what had been a 22-point deficit to just six.
Gundagai’s comfortable half-time advantage had disappeared and all the momentum was now with Temora.
The Tigers were also forced to defend with one of their key players on the sideline after hooker Wilson Hamblin was sin-binned for the final 10 minutes.
It was at that point that Gundagai’s premiership credentials were truly tested.
Rather than panic, the Tigers dug deep.
With Temora pressing and the grand final hanging in the balance, Gundagai’s defence held firm, repelling the Dragons’ attacking raids and refusing to allow the comeback to continue.
A penalty goal from Corey Wilson then provided the Tigers with some much-needed breathing room, pushing the lead back out to 24-16.
From there, Gundagai saw out the remaining minutes to secure another memorable premiership.
The final siren brought celebrations for the Tigers and their supporters as Gundagai secured its second consecutive Group 9 Premiership, adding another chapter to a remarkable period of success for the club.
How it unfolded…
1 min – Temora make an error in the first set of the match.
2 mins – Gundagai centre Gabriel Gul goes close to scoring but puts a foot into touch.
7 mins – A big defensive shot from Tigers coach Hayden Ashcroft gives Temora a penalty after a period of back-and-forth play.
9 mins – Temora have a chance to register the first points in the corner, but the Tigers’ defence covers well.
12 mins – Tigers halfback Derek Hay splits the Temora defence and forces an error from the Dragons as they scramble to stop the scoring opportunity.
13 mins – Gul scores from the ensuing scrum to give Gundagai a 4-0 lead.
20 mins – Wilson Hamblin makes a line break from the ruck to create a scoring chance, but a pass to Sailusi Temaka is ruled forward.
25 mins – Veteran James Luff makes an immediate impact for the Tigers, putting Royce Tout over under the posts. Gundagai 10-0.
33 mins – James Morgan finds his way past a handful of defenders before offloading to Will Herring, who scores to extend the Tigers’ lead. Gundagai 16-0.
37 mins – Tigers back-rower Mark Asquith is held up over the line.
38 mins – Asquith has no such trouble this time, diving over after Luff plays down the short side. Gundagai 22-0.
43 mins – Gundagai replacement Sheldon Diaz offloads to Herring, who goes close to scoring but is stopped short of the line.
49 mins – Some second-phase play from Temora puts fullback Hamish Starr into space, but the Dragons are unable to convert the half chance.
52 mins – Hamblin again finds easy metres around the ruck, splitting the Dragons’ defence for a 50-metre run.
55 mins – A line break by Asquith results in an offload to supporting winger Corey Wilson, who is desperately denied a try. Gul crosses the line on the very next play but drops the ball while grounding it.
59 mins – Temora make the most of four straight sets of possession, with Brodie Mirtschin sending winger Drew Robinson over in the corner. Jake McGovern converts. Gundagai 22-6.
63 mins – Temora interchange prop David White crashes over, but the pass from hooker Bailey Wallace is ruled forward.
67 mins – Starr makes the most of a lucky bounce and throws the ball back infield to a waiting Billy Reardon, who crosses for the Dragons.
Gundagai 22-10.
70 mins – After repeated infringements by the Tigers, referee Brad Baker has had enough and Hamblin is sin-binned.
71 mins – Temora create space out wide, only for Wilson to knock down the final pass from Dragons centre Brandon Nima. Five-eighth Lachie Cole scores from the following scrum. Gundagai 22-16.
75 mins – Wilson nails a difficult penalty goal to push Gundagai’s lead back out to eight points. Gundagai 24-16.
78 mins – Temora have one final opportunity to attack from inside the Tigers’ half, but Gundagai’s defence forces an error.
80 mins – Gundagai players are rushed by ecstatic supporters as the Tigers secure their premiership victory.
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