Although the Bears have been struggling in the first half of the season, a resounding 56-10 victory for the travelling Mudgee outfit was crucial for a season that has spluttered to a start with injuries, suspensions and absences for key players in the squad.

The 56 point haul came off the back of 11 tries for the Dragons, including 7 unanswered 4-pointers in the first half of the match.

It was a Joel Bodiam try just minutes into the clash that opened the flood gates for the defending premiers, with Andrew Laurie adding another soon after.

A quick-fire double for Nathan O’Brien, this time both converted by Lee Hicks, stretched the scoreline out to 20-0 at the half-hour mark, before Ben Thomson added to the damage.

Hicks added to his growing season tally, now seven tries in six games, as well as converting the points from Thomson’s effort as well as Andrew Warwicker’s minutes later, though he missed the extras on his own try.

The half time whistle would have felt a small mercy for the Bears as they headed for the sheds, aiming for an inspiring team talk in the face of 36 points by the champions.

For the first ten minutes of the second half it looked like whatever Blayney’s captain-coach Will Ingram had said was going to bring the Bears back for a ball-game, with Joshua Farrand and Alex Pettit both crossing with Lochie Hobby kicking one of the two goals.

It wasn’t to last for the cellar dwellers of the campaign however, as Nick Harvey fired back before Warwicker rounded out his game with two more, securing his hat-trick on the road.

Thompson crossed again late in the affair, with Thomas Lawson kicking two of the four potential extras in the second half.

The Dragons, still fourth after their hot-and-cold start to the season, left King George Oval with the two points however, and spades of confidence after their massive point haul.

Pete Hickman was pleased with the result, even considering that the Bears have struggled so far this season.

“We have a had a lot of guys out, and are missing 11 players across the top two grades, so to get the wins for both is really great to see,” he said.

“I could list five guys, including Corin [Smith], Todd [Munn] and Nathan Orr, that are missing from the side and getting 56 points without them is promising.”

MUDGEE DRAGONS 56 (Nathan O’Brien 2, Andrew Warwicker 2, Ben Thompson 2, Joel Bodium, Andrew Laurie, Lee Hicks, Nick Harvey; Hicks 4, Tom Lawson 2 goals) def BLAYNEY BEARS 10 (Joshua Farrand, Alex Pettit; Lochie Hobby 1 goal).