The Dungog Warriors travelled to Carrington on Saturday to take on the competition front runners and came away realising how much work they need to do to be a force in this years title race going down 54 – 16.
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The Warriors certainly had a dig but when your completition rate is at 52 per cent compared to your opponents 80 per cent you are going to struggle to win games no matter who you play.
A dropped ball in the 1st set of the game from Dungog gave the Pirates a chance and they opened the scoring with a try in the corner before supporters had managed to get comfortable in their seats.
Carrington looked like extending its lead only for Warrior swinger Aaron Cottam to run down his opponent in a 70 metre chase. From the play the ball a dropped ball had Cottam heading in the other direction and race 80 metres to score in a remarkable effort.
Unfortunately the Warriors continued to turn over possession and 3 tries and 2 conversions later had Carrington doing it comfortably leading 20-4 midway through the 1st half. It was the next 20 minutes that the Warriors played its best football of the game starting with Guy Russell finishing off a good backline move to cross in the corner for his 1st try for the Warriors.
When Dave Seers went over just before halftime after a great ball from hooker Daniel Bates and Lee Nevin converting both tries Dungog had put themselves back in the game trailing 20-16.
Another poor start by Dungog in the 2nd half allowed the Pirates to extend its lead with a try inside the first 3 minutes and when the Hooker scored his 2nd 50 metre try of the game from dummy half Carrington lead 30-16 with still 30minutes to go. Dungog tried valiantly to get themselves back in the game and looked close to scoring a couple of times but could not find their way across the stripe.
With 20 to go Dungog could be reasonably happy with its performance against the top side and with a host of players unavailable they were certainly giving a good account of themselves. Unfortunately ill discipline and bickering among themselves undid all of the positive work that had taken place in the previous 60 minutes.
Dungog found themselves down to 12 men when Jackson Bell was sent to the sin bin and only had 11 a short time later when a fellow team mate Luke Rits joined him.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse they were left with 10 men when Aaron Cottam was sent from the field. Needless to say the Pirates had a field day running in a further 4 converted tries to take the final score to 54-16.
Overall a disappointing finish by the Warriors and hopefully it was a one off and everyone turns up next week and give the match officials and their team mates the respect they deserve.
Carrington 54 10 tries 7 goals
Dungog 16 A Cottam , G Russell, D Seers tries L Nevin 2 goals
RSL Best Forward Brad Smith, RSL Best Back Hayden Mitchell, Players Player Daniel Bates
Next Weekend Dungog take on East Maitland on Sunday at Bennett Park at 2.30 so come along and watch the Warriors bounce back with a win against the Griffins
