The Dungog Warriors showed plenty of smarts and heart to defeat Waratah Mayfield 40-30 on the road on Saturday.
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Things were tight early on with both sides defending well in the opening 15 minutes.
Ill-discipline saw Waratah have a man sin-binned and Dungog took advantage. A great play the ball from returning player Kieran Hinton saw Aiden Brekelman dive over from dummy half for a converted try and 6-0 lead.
Matt Hinton was next to cross the stripe after a strong carry from 10 metres out taking a couple men over the line with him to extend the lead 12-0.
With a full complement of players Waratah hit back. A fortuitous bounce from a kick led to a Cheetahs try out wide.
Big Matty Hinton then crashed over for his second of the afternoon, which was converted by Jeremy Fredricks.
Shortly after a Waratah player was sent off for the rest of the afternoon for stomping the head of a Dungog payer.
Waratah crossed the line next though scoring out wide through a well-placed grubber. They missed the conversion again and the score was 18-8.
Just before half-time a clever kick from Fredricks off a scrum saw Dungog debutant Trei Brekelman dive over for crucial 24-8 lead at the break.
Waratah came out in the second half with a point to prove and got off to a great start scoring through a barge over try, after a mountain of possession, edging closer at 24-14.
The big Cheetahs pack rolled through some ordinary defence and the half back brushed off a couple of would be defenders to get to 24-20.
The Warriors finally clicked back into to gear with 20 minutes to go when Daniel Bates raced over from 15 metres out to go up 30-20.
Then Mitchell Evans showed strength and skill to stand in the tackle to flick the ball to Ryan O’Connor who touched down for the easiest try of his career. Fredricks missed his first conversion leaving the score at 34-20.
It was then Dungog’s turn to have a man given 10 for talking too much to the referee. Waratah wasted no time capitalising, scoring of the ensuing set to get within striking distance at 34-26.
In a thrilling finish the Cheetahs then rolled up the field 100m and scored a try out wide to excite the home fans. Another missed conversion now had the game at 34-30.
A poor pass in front of Dungog’s posts had them defending their own line but they kept the Cheetahs out finally forcing them into an error.
The Warriors were then advanced down field from a penalty and Trai Brekelman scored his second try out wide through some nice sets of hands. Fredericks found his radar again to give the Warriors a 40-30 victory.
Any away win is always a well-earned victory and this was no different. It will be a confidence builder for a new squad and hopefully they can start getting some consistency at training.
Mitchell Evans was strong all day and Trai Brekelman showed there is no substitute for speed. The prop pairing of Matt Hinton and Terry Drinkwater stood tall and matched it with the big forwards of Waratah.
Evans earned the best back award and Hinton was players’ player and best forward.
The Warriors take on Abermain Hawks this Friday at Bennett Park at 7pm with the Jersey Auction to follow at the RSL.