The much anticipated major semi-final between Dungog and Clarence Town certainly lived up to expectations with the game in the balance right up until the final whistle.

With the Cobras eager to keep its unbeaten record intact and the Warriors just as keen to be first team in the grand final both sides ripped into each other from the kickoff.

Dungog had the first scoring opportunity with centre Lee Nevin going close inside the first five minutes. Dungog were taking the game to the Cobras enjoying good field position and fully testing the Cobras defence with Matt Hinton, Brad Smith and Chris Evans leading the way.

Dungog seemed to be gaining the upper hand but the Cobras were first to register points.

A 30-metre break by front rower Ben Bradley put Dungog on the back foot but both teams were guilty of poor handling.

Eventually the Cobras controlled their possession and when Phil Badior switched play to Blake Birch down the blind he in turn picked up centre James Foot who broke through defenders to score the opening try.

An unsuccessful conversion left the Cobras with a 4-0 lead midway through the first half.

The Cobras' kicking game was presenting challenges to the Warriors back three but winger Will Rooke and fullback Steven Muddle handled everything the Cobras threw at them.

It was inside the last 10 minutes of the half that Dungog started to get on top with Matt Hinton going in from close range for a converted try.

From the clearing kick in the next set of six the Cobras dropped a clumsy ball on the second tackle right in front of their posts and after failing to dive on the loose ball Dungog's lock Nathan Price scooped the ball up and slammed it over the line to stretch their lead to 12-4.

The Cobras went to the break trailing 12-4 with plenty of work to do in the second half but Dungog started the full of intent and continued to ask plenty of questions of the Cobras' defence.

Five-eighth Jake Clifton's kicking game was posing all sorts of problems for the Cobras.

When winger Aaron Cottom pounced on a Clarence Town fumble to go in for a converted try Dungog now found themselves with an 18-4 lead.

Dungog continued to take the game to the Cobras but there is a reason they have remained undefeated this year and they found themselves with a sniff when they crossed for a converted try with 15 minutes to go.

Decent possession in good field position gave the Cobras the opportunity to mount some pressure and on the back of a beautifully weighted short kick to the corner winger Riley Hunter timed the bounce to perfection to race over for Clarence Town's second try.

The Cobras now had all the momentum and after good runs from Foot and Mitch Maytom, Birch and Jarrod Marks moved the ball to back-rower Trent Papa who took on the defence and offloaded a nice ball for Scott Batey to score.

The successful conversion had the game in the balance at 16-18 in Dungog's favour with enough time for either team to score again.

Unfortunately, for the Cobras it was again the failure to defuse clearing kicks which ended any chance of victory.

As was the case all afternoon simple dropped balls gave the Warriors too much time in good field position and the Cobras put themselves under pressure too many times to control the game.

Dungog now have next week off before taking on the winner of the Stroud/Clarence Town game this Saturday at Lakeside Oval at 3pm.

Dungog 18: Tries: Matthew Hinton, Nathan Price, Aaron Cottom. Goals: Steven Curnow 3

Clarence Town 16: Tries: James Foot, Riley Hunter, Scott Batey. Goals: Blake Birch 2

Dungog: RSL Best Forward and Players Player Matt Hinton. RSL Best Back Jake Clifton. Rays Reserve Mitch Wratten.

Clarence Town: Best Forward: Gareth Ramage; Best Back: Blake Birch; Best Benchy: Brad Johnson; Supporters Award: Ben Bradley. Best Fairest points: 3 Gareth Ramage 2 Ben Bradley 1 Blake Birch