The Mudgee Dragons fell to the Orange Hawks 28-18 at Wade Park, with the hosts producing a defensive effort that secured the two competition points.
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The battle, and subsequent defeat, sees the defending Group 10 premiers have their winning streak that stretched all the way back to before they lifted the trophy snapped at nine.
The two blues were camped on their own line for majority of the opening half, the Dragons throwing plenty at Hawks’ defence only to be repelled more often than not.
In wet conditions, the travelling red-and-whites came up with two converted tries, the first to Nathan Orr then through his centre partner Lee Hicks, but both were off-set by four-pointers to Jake Blimka and big Arty Shead, in his comeback to Group 10.
And, from the half-time break onward, the game fell away from the Dragons.
Obviously lifting in confidence having denied the champions in the first 40 minutes, the hosts raced in tries to Jordan Baker and then Willie Heta, the captain-coach nailing both conversions and landing two penalties in the second stanza.
The premiers were without Corin Smith, Jack Afamasaga, Hamish Bryant, Nathan O’Brien and, for short stints due to discipline, Jared Robinson and Nathan Orr.
Both spent time in the sin bin.
Regardless of the adversity, they fought hard.
Hicks finished the game with a double, while Andrew Warwicker was strong and Ben Thompson scheming out of acting half appeared solid as he co-lead the orchestra.
“We got a football lesson today,” coach Peter Hickman said.
“When it was even at half-time, the team that came out and controlled possession and field position was going to win the game.
“We ball-watched the six in the second half, he played well in that last 40.
“Considering the conditions and the troops we had out, I wasn’t too unsatisfied.”
The game did deteriorate at points.
One massive hit from Aumuller on Nathan Orr bringing the teams together before Orr and Hawks’ backrower Viane Faliniko came together late in the contest.
Orr received 10 minutes in the sin bin as a result.
Hickman focuses now on the returning players that are still watching on from the sideline for the Dragons.
The head coach said it could be another month before off-season recruit Smith graces the paddock, and multiple players missing in the match will return in coming weeks.