The Dungog Warriors are back in the top four after a memorable 42-20 win against league leader Carrington at Bennett Park on Saturday.
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Down 20-6 shortly before half-time, the Warriors scored the next 34 points unaswered to record their best win of the season.
After a 62-6 shellacking at the hands of sixth placed Abermain a week ago, Dungog bounced back to form to deliver the Pirates their second loss of the season.
The win has Dungog sitting in fourth place with two rounds to go and if they can win their remaining games will play semi final football for the first time since 2013.
The Warriors gifted Carrington the opening try with a dropped ball in the first set of six.
Brad Smith, making a welcome return with Tim Harlow, answered for Dungog when he proved unstoppable from a tap restart to cross for a converted tr .
The Pirates put their noses back in front when they regathered a bomb to go over under the posts for a 12-6 lead and witin 10 minutes they pushed it out to 20-6.
Things were looking ominous for Dungog but a James Foot try on the stroke of half-time gave the Warriors a bit of momentum going into the break.
With their season on the line and the front row of Harlow, Phil Badior and Dave Seers leading the way the Warriors were unstoppable in the second half.
A great ball from Badior to Harlow for a converted try early in the half cut the deficit to four and Dungog drew level at the 50 minute mark when winger Aaron Cottam crossed out wide.
Cottam put the Warriors in the lead for the first time at the 60 minute mark when he grabbed an intercept to race 90 metres to score a converted try.
The pressure mounted on the Pirates and they had two players sin-binned in the final 20 minutes.
Badior, who was proving a handful for the Pirates defence with his running from dummy half. created the next try when he found space before offloading to Lee Nevin for a converted try and a 32-20 lead with 15 minutes to go.
The Warriors pressed home the advantage, with Hayden Mitchell crossing for a converted try and Badior finished the scoring for the game with a penalty try just before full-time leaving the Warriors in front 40-20.
A fantastic win from the Warriors to come from behind and beat the competition front runners with every player taking the field aiming up on the day to record a memorable win.
Dungog 40 A Cottam 2, J Foot, T Harlow, B Smith, L Nevin, H Mitchell tries P Badior 6 goals def Carrington 20 4 tries 2 goals
RSL Best Forward and Players Player Tim Harlow. RSL Best Back Mitch Evans, Rays Reserve Zach Thackeray
The Warriors have next weekend off with their next game being against East Maitland at East Maitland on Saturday, August 6 at 3pm
Finally every one involved with the Dungog Warriors would like to offer their condolences to Tim Harlow and his family on the recent passing of his father.
