The Dungog Warriors travelled to Parbury Oval at Swansea, in a double-header with Clarence Town, and kept their season on track with a 38-8 win to cement second position on the ladder.
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Despite the margin, Dungog had to work hard against a spirited opposition before taking control in the second half.
With five rounds to go Dungog find themselves three points behind Kotara but have opened up a five-point gap to equal third placed University and Belmont Souths and are looking on course to be in a great position come semi-final time.
Dungog were forced to work hard in the early exchanges in Sunday’s game with the Swansea defence proving equal to everything the Warriors could throw at them.
Winger Aaron Cottom appeared to have grabbed first points for Dungog only to put a foot into touch when scoring.
After sustained pressure the Warriors scored when Aidan Brekelmans crossed for a converted try and went out to a 12-nil lead midway through the half when Jeremy Fredericks scored following an intercept.
Swansea got on the scoreboard 10 minutes from half-time when on one of the few occasions they found themselves up Dungog’s end of the field they went over out wide for an unconverted try.
The Warriors had enjoyed a mountain of possesion and field position but were having trouble cracking the Swansea defence and it took a brilliant piece of play fron winger Aaron Cottom to send the Warriors to the half time break with a 18-4 lead.
Fielding a kick well inside his own half Cottom ducked and weaved past at least half a dozen would be defenders before linkining up with Chris Evans who himself beat several defenders in a 40 metre run down the sideline to cross in the corner for a converted try.
The second half was only five minutes old when Dungog extended its lead when hooker Daniel Bates sent second rower Cody Warwick over for a try.
The defensive effort was starting to tell on Swansea with a few gaps starting to appear and Trai Brekelmans put the Warriors further ahead when he proved too quick for the opposition crossing for a converted try.
A try to Cottom not long after put Dungog out to an unassailable lead.
Swansea replied with an intercept but the last word was left to the Warriors with Terry Drinkwater celebrating his 100th game for Dungog steaming onto a ball to crash over untouched to cap off a great game from the front rower.
Drinkwater then calmly converted his own try to have the Warriors running out 38-8 winners.
Drinkwater and fellow bookend Matt Hinton led the way for the Warriors with hooker Daniel Bates and halfback Jeremy Fredericks not far behind.
Aaron Cottom despite the heckling from the crowd showed why he is one of the best wingers in the competition and Harry Boorer along with all the other bench players had great games when given the chance
Dungog 38: A Cottom, T Brekelmans, J Fredericks, T Drinkwater, C Warwick, A Brekelmans, C Evans tries. J Fredericks 4, T Drinkwater goals
Swansea 8: 2 tries
RSL best forward Daniel Bates, RSL fest back Jeremy Fredericks, players’ player Terry Drinkwater, Ray’s reserve Harry Boorer
This Saturday Dungog take on last placed Maitland United at Bennett Park with the game set to kick off at 4pm following a full day of junior games.