The Dragons had to fight all of the way for the two vital competition points and led just 6-0 at the half time break after 40 minutes of hard fought football.

Cowra dominated much of the play in the first half and it wasn’t until seconds from the break that Mudgee broke the Cowra line with William Kennedy opening the Dragons account following a simple back line movement which was over read by the Magpies.

Warick Colley added the extras and Mudgee went into the break lucky to be ahead on the scoreboard.

Cowra’s young forwards were again leading the way against the more experienced and bigger Mudgee pack with Ronald Lawrence, Josh Newling and Greg Hilton all making good ground in attack and proving strong in defence.

KJ Wood provided them with good support whilst for Mudgee, Colley and Steve Lane were calling the shots.

The Magpies didn’t return for the second 40 minutes with as much enthusiasm and in the early stages of the second half Mudgee went within metres of extending their lead only to be cut short.

Mudgee kept coming at the Magpies who were able to defuse a Lane bomb but the Dragons received a repeat set and didn’t waste the opportunity with hooker Anthony Minahan strolling over for an easy try from dummy half after a period of good defence from Cowra.

Colley converted to give the Dragons breathing space at 12-0.

With still 22 minutes left on the clock Mudgee showed how much respect they had for the young Magpies with Lane taking a field goal option to extend the lead to 13-0.

Six minutes later Cowra had an opportunity to hit back following a Tyler Nobes kick behind the defensive line but Cowra centre Jay McClintock was unable to regather with the line open.

Minutes later the Magpies had another chance, again following a Nobes kick, but this time it was Phil Ingram going close but just failing to regather.