Tallon Smith
A week after returning to their early-season form against Southcity, Gundagai sent a shockwave through Group 9 after emerging from Alfred Oval with a dominant 56-10 victory over Young on Saturday.
Winger Sailusi Temaka crossed for four of the Tigers’ 10 tries to take his tally to seven in the last two games, as the visitors handed the fourth-placed Cherrypickers their biggest loss of the year in a battle between the competition’s two most recent premiers.
Tigers coach Hayden Ashcroft was happy to put comprehensive back-to-back wins together leading into the finals after a series of close matches and a shock loss to Albury prior to the general bye a fortnight ago.
“[It was] super pleasing, especially after last week, the week off into Southcity and being able to copy and paste [a] similar performance over at Young,” he said.
“We knew they were going to be difficult, but I think we are just really confident and playing a good brand of football now, which is pleasing, especially at this time of the year.”
The Tigers started strongly, with Sailusi Temaka crossing for the opening two tries of the match, the first coming off a pinpoint kick from Derek Hay, before Jake Kambos hit back for Young to bring the Cherrypickers within two points at 8-6.
However, that proved the closest Young would get with Gabriel Gul extending Gundagai’s lead to 14-6 heading into half time, after which the Tigers clicked up a gear, with Ashcroft, Hay and Tyron Gorman crossing in the opening 10 minutes of the second stanza to open up a 26-point lead.
Hay then completed his double with a try out wide followed by another four-pointer to fullback Will Herring, before Temaka crossed twice more to bookend Gundagai’s scoring, with a consolation effort to Billy Lamb leaving the final margin at 46 points.
Reflecting on Temaka’s incredible return to the team over the past fortnight, Ashcroft said his contribution has been key to the side’s commanding victories, but that a number of other players have also stood tall as the playoffs approach.
“[Sailusi’s] an excellent player, certainly someone that complements our team,” Ashcroft said.
“There [were] a number of players who were excellent, to be honest I think we just really played well as a team.
“[There were] some standout performances, I think Derek was really good too, scored two tries.
“Sheldon [Diaz] was really good off the bench for us, I think we are really just finding our rhythm at the moment, and things are working.
“Everything’s really just positive for us.”
Despite the comprehensive nature of the past two wins, the real test for the Tigers looms this coming weekend, when the side faces Temora in a showdown for the minor premiership.
With the finals awaiting on the other side, Ashcroft is hopeful Gundagai can keep the momentum of the past fortnight going.
“We have still got a big challenge next week in Temora, but hopefully we can continue this form,” he said.
“Obviously this is a big week, this is big for them and big for us.
“We just need to focus on ourselves and our performance.
“I think if we can play a similar type of footy to what we’ve played the last two weeks, I think we are every chance of doing well.
“We’ve been taking it week by week, but hopefully we get up for this week and can come away with a similar performance.”
Young will face a Wagga Kangaroos side needing a victory for a potential top five berth at Alfred Oval on Saturday.
GUNDAGAI 56 (Sailusi Temaka 4, Derek Hay 2, Gabriel Gul, Hayden Ashcroft, Tyron Gorman, Will Herring tries; Herring 8 goals) DEFEATED YOUNG 10 (Jake Kambos, Billy Lamb tries; Che Hyslop goal) at Alfred Oval, Saturday August 15.
