By Peter (Parra) Montgomery

Wagga Kangaroos are through to their second successive Group 9 Great Northern Grand Final following a comprehensive 24-4 win over Temora Dragons at Greenfield Park in Albury on Sunday.

Playing in Albury colours after a kit mix-up saw them arrive at the match with no jerseys, the Kangaroos were unfazed as they booked a spot against the Young Cherrypickers in the decider to be played at McDonalds Park Wagga Wagga next Sunday.

The Roos dominated Temora for the whole match, and it would be a brave fan to suggest that they couldn’t reproduce a premiership winning performance against the Minor Premiers in the decider.

Kangaroos crushed the Temora pack, with props James Hay and Benjamin Pembleton producing strong efforts, and lock forward outstanding in an 80 minute performance.

Temora was behind after Kangaroos scored a converted try in the seventh minute, after block-busting centre Dakota Ruta powered his way over next to the sticks.

Ruta is proving to be a welcome addition to the Kangaroos backline since returning from injury in recent weeks.

His appearance on Sunday in the preliminary final was just his sixth game of the year – three in the home and away series, and three in the finals – and he has scored eight tries to put the spotlight on to his potency with the ball.

Ruta has that X Factor – of size and pace of the mark, and is lethal on the left edge. He has slipped under the radar and hasn’t faced Young in any match this season

James Smart scored two tries in another eye-catching effort by the veteran. He has a great understanding with his five-eighth Zeik Forster, and hooker Zac Graham, and his two tries came as a result of being ‘johnny on the spot’ and trailing long breaks to those players.

Kangaroos suffered a blow before the game with the loss of star fullback Jacob Mancini before the game, and lost second rower Bowie Foster late in the match with what appeared to be a leg injury.

Poor handling by Temora players ruined the Dragons hopes of scoring, and were kept in the game by another excellent kicking performance by coach Josh McCrone.

Smart crossed for his first try after 19 minutes, and a conversion and another penalty goal by Charlie Barton pushed the lead out to 14 nil near halftime.

Temora had a chance to score its first points with a charging run by fullback Hamish Starr close to the line resulting in the custodian being held up over the line and unable to ground the ball.

The Kangaroos goal line defence was impregnable, and held up strongly against a desperate attack.

Temora went into the break needing to be the next to score to stay in the contest, however it was not to be.

Smart again followed a long break by hooker Graham to score under the post, and the conversion and another Barton penalty goal had stretched the lead out to 22-0.

The Dragons, urged on by coach McCrone, made a few penetrative breaks through centre James Stewart and Fullback Starr, which gave the team’s supporters some encouragement for a comeback, but everything they were attempting was evaporating through solid Kangaroos defence.

The Dragons went over in the 60th minute, but the try was disallowed with the final pass being ruled forward.

With 18 minutes left on the clock, Jared McKinnon scored in the Scoreboard corner, plucking a neat kick from McCrone out of the air to touch down, however that was to be the beginning and the end of the scoring for the Dragons.

However Barton added another two points to the victors tally, landing another penalty goal to give him six goals from six attempts for the match.

BEST KANGAROOS – Harry Stewart, James Smart, Zeik Foster, Zac Graham

BEST TEMORA – Josh McCrone, Hamish Starr, James Stewart

WAGGA KANGAROOS 24 (James Smart 2, Dakota Ruta tries; Charlie Barton 6 goals) defeated TEMORA DRAGONS 4 (Jared McKinnon try) at Greenfield Park, Albury.