Jordan Walker looks to make a play out of dummy half.
The second-placed Gundagai Tigers hosted the 7th-placed Junee Diesels Saturday at Anzac Park in a clash that delivered pure Group 9 drama.
From the first whistle, it was clear this wouldn’t be a gentle affair. Both packs collided with a ferocity that echoed through the stands, each side desperate to gain the ascendancy. The Diesels, fuelled by a desire to prove themselves, started incredibly strong, stunning the home crowd. Their forwards made significant inroads, and their early pressure paid dividends when second rower Jack Schubert powered over for Junee’s first try. The Junee faithful erupted, but the conversion from Cooper Wright drifted wide.
Undaunted, the Diesels continued their relentless assault; shortly after, winger Nick Hogarth sliced through for their second try, a brilliant piece of finishing that further silenced Anzac Park. Still, Cooper Wright’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 8-0.
Despite the missed conversions, Junee maintained their composure. Demonstrating remarkable maturity, Cooper Wright calmly slotted two crucial penalty goals, extending Junee’s lead. As the half-time siren sounded, the Junee Diesels headed into the sheds with a commanding 12-0 advantage, completely dominating the opening forty minutes and leaving the Tigers with a fair dinkum mountain to climb.
“Our first half was great,” Junee Diesels coach Ben Shea reflected, “every-one did their job in the early parts, we were near faultless.”
The halftime break invigorated the Gundagai Tigers as they burst out of the blocks in the second half with renewed intensity, determined to erase the deficit. Unfortunately for Junee, their discipline faltered immediately after the restart, giving the Tigers a crucial leg up. This lack of composure, resulting in penalties and easy metres for the home side, allowed Gundagai to build pressure quickly.
“We gave away four penalties in the first eight minutes of the second half, that’s not winning footy,” lamented Coach Shea, also noting that a sin bin from each side “made up a pretty messy game.”
It wasn’t long before the home crowd found their voice again, roaring as centre James Morgan crashed over for Gundagai’s crucial first try of the match. The Tigers were on the board, but the conversion was missed, making it 12-4.
The momentum had swung decisively; Gundagai continued to press, their plays clicking into gear. Next, winger Meli Draufound space out wide and touched down, bringing the Tigers even closer. Still, the conversions proved tricky, and the scoreboard read 12-8.
The home team’s surge wasn’t over as the game entered a thrilling phase with five-eighth Will Herring then delivering two crucial tries, showcasing his attacking prowess and leadership. With the scoreboard ticking over rapidly, Herring also managed to convert two of Gundagai’s four tries, narrowing the gap with each successful kick and eventually giving the Tigers a slim lead.
Coach Shea acknowledged the opposition’s strength, stating, “They were quality, their halves were excellent and in the centres too, they had some great moments.”
The final minutes were pure Group 9 drama. Despite Gundagai’s incredible comeback, the Junee Diesels refused to surrender; they dug deep, finding one last surge of energy. In a desperate late effort, hooker Quaider Kea plunged over for a try, bringing the Diesels tantalisingly close.
The tension was palpable; every eye was on the scoreboard. However, despite Kea’s late heroics, it wasn’t enough. The clock ran out, confirming a remarkable turnaround. When the final siren pierced the Riverina night, the Gundagai Tigers emerged victorious with a hard-fought 20-18 win over the Junee Diesels.
“It’s a disappointing one to lose,” Shea reflected.”We knew going into the game it would be a tough one but then after the start we had, we were hoping we could win. It just wasn’t to be.”
He highlighted the impact of recruits, noting that Chase Bernard (who had arrived “off the plane 4 pm yesterday” with “no training sessions”) and Mika Goudemand “will only get better the longer they’re in Australia.”
Shea praised Goudemand, stating he “was outstanding, providing good service and leg speed leading the defensive line.” He added that Bernard is “a hard man to handle,” having scored 7 tries last year.
“We’ve got a great forward pack both with the guys we’ve brought in as well as some fantastic players that were already here. Now we need to work on utilising that and playing to our strengths. Doing that will go a long way,” Shea concluded.
Despite the loss, Junee’s coach remained optimistic about building combinations and addressing areas like goal kicking, even after “scoring wide,” noting his kicker has “no problems striking them.”
This thrilling encounter played out on “one of the toughest away trips in Group 9,” will surely be remembered as another classic chapter in the rich tapestry of Group 9 rugby league, with Junee “looking forward to being back at home next week.”
-Tully Potts
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