By Tallon Smith

The Temora Dragons have done what many thought they couldn’t, sewing up the hotly contested 2023 Group 9 Minor Premiership with a 22-20 win over a vastly improved South City outfit at Harris Park in Wagga Wagga on Sunday. 

The Red and Whites’ victory, coupled with Tumut’s loss to Young, sees the side take an unassailable lead into the final two rounds, in which they have two consecutive byes; a whole of club bye, and a First Grade bye when they face Wagga Brothers.

The Dragons’ Hamish Starr led the side in the victory, scoring a try double and slotting three conversions for 14 of his side’s 22 points in the win, whilst Josh McCrone and James Stewart also crossed for the Temora side. 

For the Bulls, Jesse Fitzhenry, Maleke Morris, James Morgan and Travis Smith all crossed the stripe, with Klayton Waikato kicking 2 from 4 conversions. With the match finishing at four tries apiece, Starr’s superior record with the boot proved the difference, however, the Bulls’ efforts in the past few weeks show that they have plenty to look forward to both in the next couple of weeks and over the next few years, after taking it to cross-town rivals the Kangaroos, the Albury Thunder, and now the Dragons.

Temora Coach Josh McCrone said whilst he is “happy” to have won the club’s first Minor Premiership in almost 20 years, the squad has bigger goals this season.

“We’re happy with that achievement, but we understand there’s more to do,” he said.

“We want to win the Grand Final.

“I’m confident if we play our best footy we can beat anyone.”

One interesting situation that has presented itself is the fact that by winning the Minor Premiership, Temora have the next four weeks off, through a general bye, what has become known in 2023 as the ‘Brothers Bye’ (as Wagga Brothers field no First Grade), a club bye in the final round, and then a bye in the first week of the Finals.

However, McCrone said it is all about the approach, given that the side already utilised a similar situation with two byes and the June Long Weekend seeing them have a three-week hiatus earlier this year.

“We’re lucky enough to be in the position we’re in,” McCrone said.

“I think the way we approach these next four weeks off is important.”

“We’ve got to train well.”

McCrone also praised the standard of the Group 9 competition, labelling it “a really close contest” this season.

“I think the competition’s really tight, it’s certainly been the best since I’ve been back,” he said.

“The fact that we’re Minor Premiers and we got rolled by Junee, who look like getting the wooden spoon, is a testament to the competition.”

Temora First Grade begin their month off this week, while the club’s Reserve Grade, League Tag and Under 18s face the Wagga Brothers at home on Saturday.

Around the Grounds

In other Group 9 games, the Gundagai Tigers further cemented their spot in the all-important fifth position with a 24-10 win over the Junee Diesels away at Laurie Daley Oval on Saturday. 

Tristan Eldridge had a day out, scoring two tries and kicking two goals in his side’s victory, which sees them remain a game clear of Albury with two rounds to play. For the Diesels, the loss sees them remain level with South City in a two way duel to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon.

Meanwhile, the Young Cherrypickers again displayed their premiership credentials with a 24-6 win over the highly fancied-Tumut Blues at Alfred Oval on Saturday. Cherrypickers Five-Eighth Thomas Demeio was instrumental in his side’s victory, scoring a try and kicking four goals to tally up 12 of his side’s 24 points. 

The win sees Young join the Blues and Wagga Kangaroos in second place, with the three sides battling it out for the right to host a final, and also to play in the Qualifying Final rather than facing either Gundagai or Albury in a sudden death week one clash.

Next weekend, the Wagga Kangaroos face Junee, the Tumut Blues play host to the South City Bulls, and Gundagai can seal fifth position when they take on Young.

Cover Photo: The Temora Dragons 2023 First Grade side (Supplied: Josh McCrone)