Tallon Smith
The Young Cherrypickers have secured a top three finish and a Qualifying Final showdown with the Gundagai Tigers after a heartstopping 24-18 win over the Temora Dragons at Alfred Oval on Saturday.
With the scores locked at 18-all with seven minutes left, Young winger Boro Navori received the ball on a short side raid and raced around to score what proved to be the matchwinner for the Cherrypickers.
Young President Andrew Smith said that the win was an important one for the club in secured the double chance and a shot at a Major Semi Final berth in their title defence.
“It was always a goal to finish in that top three, just so we had those two bites at the cherry,” he said.
“It was really good, we’re just about back at full strength now, Kai Parker was sort of a late withdrawal from the weekend and Isaac Matalavea-Booth, but certainly very happy we got the job done.”
After rediscovering their form in recent weeks following the return of many of their key stars, Smith said that the opportunity to play a high-quality opponent in the Dragons leading into the finals was invaluable for the Cherrypickers.
“We couldn’t have had a better game to go into the finals than against Temora,” he said.
“We always knew they’re an 80-minute team, and unless you can match that and play for the 80 minutes, they’re never going to go away, and that’s exactly what happened on the weekend.
“It was a very tough grindy sort of game, we certainly weren’t at our best.
“Previously we’ve lost games like that, but we’re now starting to ice those moments and win games like that.”
Temora began the match the stronger of the two sides, with Jake McGovern and Josh McCrone establishing a 12-0 lead for the visitors, before the Pickers hit back with two tries of their own to Matt Murray and Che Hyslop to go into the break on level terms at 12-all.
Jake Kambos opened the scoring in the second stanza to put Young ahead 16-12, before Temora hit back through Brodie Mirtschin to take the lead 18-16.
A penalty goal to the Cherrypickers saw the game locked up at 18-all again, before Navori crossed for the nonchalant matchwinner thanks to a short side defensive lapse from Temora.
Smith said that the reaction of the team and supporters to Navori’s try showed how much the top three finish means to the club after a tough injury-riddled campaign.
“It was excellent, you only had to look at the reaction of the players and all of the crowd when we got that try, it was very exciting,” he said.
“We have a habit of scoring late to win games, like we did in the GF the year before.
“As I said before, previously we’ve just lacked that last moment which has made us go down in games, but just to start icing those moments is really pleasing.”
As for this weekend, the Cherrypickers face one of the toughest road trips in Group 9, travelling to face Gundagai Tigers at their fortress of Anzac Park, where the home side holds a 7-1 winning record across the regular season.
Smith said that while it will be a tough contest, he has full faith in the Cherrypickers’ ability to produce an upset.
“It’s always really tough going to Anzac Park, [n matter] what scale of the ladder we’re on,” he said.
“They have probably been one of the more consistent sides throughout the year and they’re certainly hitting their form last, as are we.
“We definitely know it’s going to be a very tough game.”
Sunday’s First Grade Qualifying Final against the Tigers kicks off at 2:35pm.
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