The Dungog Warriors played their final competition game on Saturday at Bennett Park, fighting to a 22-10 lead over North Newcastle before the game was called off early in the second half due to an injury to the opposition fullback.
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Dungog were slow out of the blocks in both halves, and a converted try under the posts after five minutes had the visitors in front.
The Warriors reply was swift with Dungog’s leading tryscorer Trai Brekelmans bamboozling the North’s defence in a 15m run.
Dungog hit the front 12-6 midway through the half when hooker Daniel Bates and half Jeremy Fredereicks combined to put Jackson Bell over for a converted try.
North Newcastle got back to within two with a try following a 40/20 kick but second rower Jacob Long sent the Warriors to half time with an 18-10 lead after he ran a great line to smash through the Blues defensive line to score.
The second half was only a couple of minutes old when Brekelmans extended the Warriors lead when he was on the receiving end of a dropped ball following a Dungog kick to go over for his second try of the game.
Unfortunately it was during the course of Dungog scoring that the North Newcastle fullback was injured necessitating in an ambulance being called and the game being called off.
Warrior Dan Brekelman and his opposite from Norths took control of the situation in a calm professional way and kept the player as comfortable as possible until the ambulance arrived.
Many thanks to the sponsors and supporters who turned up on the day with the temperature down and a cool wind blowing.
With the competition rounds over all eyes now turn to the semi final series, which will kick off at Lakeside Sporting complex at Raymond Terrace on Saturday.
With the Warriors running second they will take on third placed Belmont Souths.
It’ll be hard for the Warriors to get a good guage on Belmont Souths due to them forfeiting the only time they were due to meet this season. With half Jeremy Fredericks unavailable and front rower Matt Hinton struggling to overcome a knee injury Dungog will need to draw on the courage and effort that they’ve shown throughout the year to win on Saturday.
