With the Raiders five points ahead of Dungog on the competition ladder the Warriors semi final chances would take a serious hit if they lost but they rose to the challenge running out out victors 34-8.

In a game eerily similar to the previous weeks effort against East Maitland Dungog  raced to a 30-0 halftime lead only to once again fail to go on with the job in the second half . There is a lot to like about  the Warriors play at the moment and they are capable of matching it with any side in the competition but their second half efforts over the last two weeks are well short of what is needed to win a premiership.

Both sides started the game with plenty of vigour and the Raiders looked to have opened the scoring early on only for a forward pass to be called.

This was as close as the Raiders got for the rest of the half as Dungog took control. Superbly led by front rower Tim Harlow along with back rower Brad Smith and lock Nathan Ward, Dungog was making easy metres and it was Ward who opened the Warriors account for the day when he went over for a converted try.

James Foot filling in at five eight was next to cross when he madea break from a scrum win to outpace the Raiders in a 60m run to the line. The Warriors were looking good and the introduction from the bench of Luke Rits, Daniel Bates, Cody Warwick and Aidan Chivers only lifted the tempo and further converted tries to Jackson Bell and Aaron Cottam had the Warriors well in control leading 24-0.

Another converted try , this time to Cody Warwick saw Dungog go to the sheds with a 30-0 lead. As well as Dungog were playing the highlight of the first half was the goalkicking of Warriors hooker Phil Badior who in windy conditions nailed every conversion with only one being from close range.

The half time talk consisted of going on with the job but for the second week in a row things went pear shaped from the kick off. The inability to get to their kick gave the Raiders ample time with the ball and they crossed for their first try at the 50 minute mark.

Daniel Bates replied with a try for Dungog on one of the few occasions they held the ball in the second half and the Raiders completed the scoring for the game with a try 10 minutes from fulltime for a final score of 34-8.

While any win against Stroud is to be celebrated the second half performance was once again simply not good enough from a side with the players and ability to really make a mark in this seasons premiership race.

Dungogs next game is against second placed Kotara who have only lost two games from their last 27 so Dungog will need to be on their game for the full 80 minutes to come away with the points.

RSL best forward and players’ player Tim Harlow, RSL best back James Foot and Ray’s reserve Daniel Bates.

This Saturday Dungog travel to Kotara with the game set down for a 3.30 kickoff.

This will be another stern test for the Warriors and if they can play for the full 80 minutes the two points on offer can easily make its way back to Dungog.​