The Dungog Warriors travelled to Passmore Oval last Saturday to do battle with North Newcastle and kept their unbeaten start to the season going with a 40-16 win.
With the competition at the halfway mark Dungog find themselves in equal first spot on the ladder with Kotara but have a game in hand.
Dungog have handled the promotion to B Grade with ease and barring injuries are set to make a huge run at this year’s premiership.
The Warriors this year look strong all over the paddock and are in a perfect position as the competition starts the second half of the season.
Complacency and a lack of desire are two things that could halt the Warriors’ premiership aspirations and Dungog in the first 20 minutes of Saturday’s game had their supporters scratching their heads trying to work out if this was the same team that played so well the week before against Dudley.
From kicking out on the full to dropped balls, Dungog looked disinterested and North Newcastle took full advantage running in two tries and a conversion for a 10-nil lead midway through the first stanza.
Complacency and a lack of desire are two things that could halt the Warriors' premiership aspirations
Dungog managed to get on the scoreboard when hooker Daniel Bates got the ball to Kieran Hinton who beat a couple of defenders to cross for a converted try.
A mistake from the restart had Dungog under more pressure but that was alleviated when centre Trai Brekelmans intercepted a pass and raced 80 metres for a converted try to put the Warriors in front 12-10.
Brekelmans’ try against the run of play was just the tonic the Warriors needed and when a Bates special had Dave Seers crossing the line for a converted try not long after.
Dungog were starting to look the goods and Scott Robson finished the scoring for the half when he pounced on a loose ball following a last tackle kick from halfback Jeremy Fredericks.
Fredericks added the extras to have the Warriors going to lemons with a 22-10 lead.
A try to North Newcastle early in the second half brought them closer on the scoreboard but that was all and when Bates sent Dungogs’ leading try scorer Matt Hinton over for a converted try not soon after the Warriors were back in control.
Dungogs’ next try was its best of the day. Simple in its delivery but beautifully executed.
Winger Aaron Cottom sliced through the Norths defence on the halfway before drawing the fullback and delivering a perfect pass to the ever present Fredericks who went over underneath the black dot.
The Warriors finished the scoring when Dungogs’ best on the day Kieran Hinton put through a innocuous grubber kick which evaded the opposition defence allowing Jordan Campbell to dive on the loose ball for a try.
Fredericks also capped off a great game by adding the extras to give him 16 points for the day.
Dungog 40 J Campbell, T Brekelmans, J Fredericks, D Seers, M Hinton, K Hinton, S Robson tries J Fredericks 6 goals
North Newcastle 16 3 tries, 2 goals
RSL Best Forward and Players’ Player Kieran Hinton, RSL Best Back Aaron Cottom, Ray’s Reserve Scott Robson.
Friday night footy returns to Bennett Park this week when Dungog take on Kearsley in a catch up game to kick off at 7pm. A win in this game will have Dungog sitting alone on top of the table so rug up and get over to see if the Warriors can extend its winning streak to nine.
