The Temora Tuskers 2014 season concluded at the preliminary final at Tumut on Saturday, when they were defeated 33-26 by the Tumut Bulls. The loss enabled the Bulls to proceed to next weeks Romanos Cup Grand Final where they will take on Wagga City, while the Tuskers are finally out of their misery, finalising a tough season which never reached the anticipated heights due largely in part to a crippling injury toll. The Tuskers were always going to battle taking on the premier division Bulls on their own turf, but Apenisa Tudulus men were quietly confident about their chances, selecting their strongest possible combination of their available players, with the exception of fullback Matt Swanston, whose injured knee kept him on the sidelines for the match. However, the Tuskers started slowly, with the home side posting two tries, before the Temora side had the chance to fire a shot. However, when they did, it was pretty to watch, with a 10 minute period just before half time everything that coach Apenisa Tudulu has had his side working towards all season. It was up tempo, expansive and precise with the Tuskers running in two tries in quick succession to hooker, Matt Fuller and five eight, Rafa Niumataiwalu. But much of this good work was undone on the stroke of half time, when a bungled kick off return and a simple one on one missed tackle, gave the Tumut side the ascendency and a 19-12 lead at half time. However, this lapse was soon erased, when the Tuskers started the seconds stanza like a house on fire, levelling the score when Niko Degei burst through the Tumut defensive line to scoot 20 metres, for another try, adding to his already impressive tally for the 2014 season. It wasnt long before the Tuskers took the lead for the first time in the match, when five eight Niumataiwalu scored his second five pointer of the day, capitalising on a massive mid-field charge from replacement prop, Daniel Wood. However, it all turned to putty from then on for the Tuskers with the Tumut side showing why they qualified for the Premier division, upping the ante and also benefitting from several 50/50 decisions that all went the home sides way. They scored twice to put a gap between the two sides, that the Tuskers could not close, despite their best efforts, with replacement winger Aaron Burnett controversially bundled into touch with what looked to many to be a shoulder charge, and Niko Degei called back after his impressive breakdown work was ruled illegal. Unfortunately, tensions boiled over in the final three minutes when a large brawl ensued, with the Tuskers finishing the game with 13 players, and Tumut also without their centre who was red carded for his role in the melee. It was undoubtedly an unsavoury end to a high quality match, that was worthy of a preliminary final, in a match that could easily have gone in the Temora sides favour with an ounce or two of luck. With the Temora under 17s side also defeated in the first match of the day, by the Wagga City juniors the Tuskers attention now turns to its annual presentation evening, that has been scheduled for Friday, 5th September at the Temora Golf Club. Score: First Grade: Tumut 33 def Temora 26 (Matt Fuller, Rafa Niumataiwalu 2, Niko Degei tries Ben Price 3 conversions) Under 17s Wagga City 43 def Temora 0.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 05:50:31 +0000
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