Tallon Smith

A fast-starting Gundagai has moved to within one win of a second successive grand final after accounting for Junee 36-12 in a comprehensive qualifying final victory at Anzac Park on Sunday.

Two tries in the opening eight minutes set the scene for the remainder of the afternoon, as the Tigers crossed the line seven times in total to set up a rematch of last weekend’s minor premiership showdown against Temora in the major semi final next Sunday.

Gundagai coach Hayden Ashcroft said the result was very pleasing, with a focus on their own game yielding a return to winning form for the vastly-experienced defending premiers.

“The way we managed today, especially after a loss last week against Temora was exceptional, and I think everyone really rose for the occasion,” he said.

“I think we were pleased to just worry about us today, which is what we did well.

“We didn’t read too much into that last round game against Temora for the minor premiership.

“[We] had a really good week training, and we were just right up for the occasion. 

“It was most likely one of our last games at Anzac Park for the season, so we wanted to get a really good win for our spectators and supporters.”

The Tigers started fast, with Tyron Gorman going over in the third minute, before James Morgan extended the side’s early advantage to 10-0 five minutes later.

The Diesels found a reply to remain in the early exchanges when a break from Daniel Foley led to a try to Cooper Wright later in the set, but the Tigers set about cancelling that out with two more four-pointers to Mark Asquith and Will Herring, the latter coming off a well-timed pass from Gorman, to open up a 20-6 half time lead.

Things got worse for the Diesels on the other side of the break, with dynamic hooker Eli Crozier succumbing to a leg injury, before the onslaught resumed soon after when Gorman put Joseph Tahaafe through a gap, creating an opportunity for Sailusi Temaka to cross.

Another try to Gabriel Gul extended the Tigers’ lead to 32-6, before Junee finally found its second through Jakeem Morgan to reduce the margin to 20 with eight minutes to play.

However, it was Herring who had the final say, as Asquith sent the Tigers custodian over in the corner to complete his double and cap a 24-point victory in front of their home fans.

The outstanding performances from Herring and Gorman follow a series of strong late-season showings beginning with a positional switch involving the two made with a month remaining in the regular season.

Ashcroft said while career stages were a factor in the decision, the benefits of Gorman steering the ship alongside Derek Hay in the halves and Herring playing at the back were evident more than ever on Sunday.

“Obviously he’s getting on in age [Tyron], he’s been playing first grade for a long time, so it was just about managing that and what was going to work best,” he said.

“I think he’s got a really strong running game, and he came up with some great decisions today for us, so I think that decision has been really positive, and I think he’s enjoying himself.

“It’s always nice to see blokes’ games come on strength-to-strength, he was great for us today.

“I think on that note Will Herring has been really good at one as well, so it has been a positive change for us.”

Meanwhile, after falling short of earning a week off and hosting rights for the major semi final, the Tigers have earned a shot at reversing their 34-10 final round loss to Temora and booking a place in the grand final.

When asked about what the side needs to do differently compared to their last clash with the Dragons, Ashcroft said the plan is simple.

“There’s probably no real secrets with us, if we turn up with the right mindset and focus on us, which is probably what we need to do, complete high, and just get through our sets, we’ve got plenty of points in us, we’ve got strike across the park,” he said.

“Temora play a very simple game of football, we know that they get through their sets well and they grind well, so we just need to be prepared to do the same and turn up with the right attitude.

“It’s not an unexpected game, we [were] well aware that we were going to possibly come up against them on three occasions in four weeks, so we just need to turn up with the right attitude.

“I think we’ll take a lot of positives and confidence out of today’s win, and hopefully we can go and get one more in Temora.”

After losing its first finals match in eight years, Junee will utilise its hard-fought second chance when it faces elimination final victors Southcity at Laurie Daley Oval on Saturday.

GUNDAGAI 36 (Will Herring 2, Tyron Gorman, James Morgan, Mark Asquith, Sailusi Temaka, Gabriel Gul tries; Corey Wilson 4 goals) DEFEATED JUNEE 12 (Cooper Wright, Jakeem Morgan tries; Stu Dunbar 2 goals) at Anzac Park, Sunday August 30.