In the stories it’s St George that brings down the dragon.
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Last weekend in Group 10, the Mudgee Dragons were able to get one over Bathurst St Pats for the second time this season.
Heading away to Jack Arrow Oval in Bathurst, the defending premiers were looking to continue their recent run of form that has been boosted by a series of returning stars.
It was a higher scoring game than the clash between the two teams in Round 2, but it was still the Dragons that went home with the points that will only aid their bid for one of the top spots on the competition ladder.
There were no answers a lacklustre Pat’s side had for the Dragons, going down 32-18, just a week after the Saints came close to knocking over competition leaders Orange CYMS.
High-flyer Ben Thompson got the visitors on the board just four minutes into the game but Greg Behan was able to quickly hit back for Pat’s make it 6-4 in side’s favour.
At the 26 minute mark a horror patch of play from the Saints saw the Dragons run in three tries that would ultimately prove the difference at full-time.
Lee Hicks, Ethen Butler and Andrew Laurie all crossed for the champions in the space of just six minutes.
Pat’s brought the deficit back to 20-12 when Behan crashed over for his second try of the game.
Corin Smith’s converted try put the traveling squad further ahead, and will put a smile on fans faces to see the Mudgee local back on the score-sheet.
In a highly defensive half of football it took until the 70th minute for a team to find the try line after Smith’s four-pointer.
Saints’ Tyson Medlyn found the line but just moments later star half Sam Wooden converted his own try to seal the win.
The victory keeps the Dragons within two points of the Oberon Tigers – a small victory after Oberon’s comparative strong opening to the season.
In the first division the Dragons had less luck.
The scores were locked at 6-6 25 minutes into the match, with Sebastian Flack having crossed for the red v, and Jack Beasley delivering the goal.
The scoreline blew out from there however, as the seconds struggled against the Bathurst outfit – the match finished 64-6 in favour of the home team.
Because of the injuries rife in the top side, the seconds have suffered as well and are only now seeing the return of some of their best.
Though it was a closer match, the Under 18s also fell to the St Pat’s juniors, with the young reds defeated 28-10.
A late consolation try was all the ladies could collect in their match too, as Melissa Ungaro scored and kicked the goal, but the League Tag side lost 58-6.
The Dragons return to Glen Willow this weekend to face the Orange Hawks.
Mudgee Dragons 32 (Ben Thompson, Lee Hicks, Ethen Butler, Andrew Laurie, Corin Smith, Sam Wooden tries; Wooden 4 goals) def. St Pats 18 (Greg Behan 2, Tyson Medlyn tries; Garry Reilly 3 goals)