This year they wanted to avoid a difficult start to the season, but with injuries, absences and a struggle to find the numbers they have had a similar tale befall them in 2017.

Their title defence has had a lift however, with the return of some of the champions of old, which meant that another close game against the Cowra Magpies.

Corin Smith, the high-flying speedster that couldn’t resist the call of Sydney footy, has returned after a spell on the sidelines in the first half of the season, his first game back in the Red V since the Mudgee 9s before the season began.

It was a victory too, with the champions downing the Magpies 32-20 in a try-fest at Glen Willow that saw Sam Wooden continue his shining season.

The scoring began less than a minute in as Nick Harvey crossed the line, with both Nathan Orr and Sam Wooden recording doubles, as Wooden also kicked four of the possible six goals on offer.

It was an afternoon of doubles, as Nicholas Collett also left Glen Willow with one under his belt, although it wasn’t enough in the end.

The win was important for the defending champs as they move into the second half of the season, and now move into an uncontested 4^th place with a 5-4 record.

The Dragons found luck in the first grade match and the under-18s as well, with the young Dragons winning 26-10 off a Mitchell Harvey hat-trick, while the first grade side stormed home 36-18.

The League Tag ladies struggled however, falling six points short in a tale of two-halves.

It was all one way traffic for the Dragons as they ran 14 points home off the back of three tries, but the Magpies lifted at half-time and answered back with twenty points of their own.