The Jack Littlejohn-coached Mudgee Dragons remain unbeaten through the opening fortnight of the 2019 Group 10 premier league season, after hanging on to down the fast-finishing Oberon Tigers by a converted try on Good Friday afternoon.
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Travelling to Oberon Sportsground, the Dragons rocketed out of the blocks and rifled to a 24-nil lead by the half-time break, with Littlejohn, Jack Beasley, Casey Burgess and Nick Willson all crossing the line in the opening 40 minutes to threaten a blowout.
That blowout didn't come though, in fact the Dragons didn't score again as the Tigers stormed back into the clash with a second-half revival.
However it wasn't quite enough, the Tigers scored three converted tries but couldn't quite finish their stunning comeback off, the Dragons digging deep defensively in the dying stages to hang on for a six-point, 24-18 victory.
Richie Peckham started the Tigers' roll-on in the 51st minute and boom 2019 recruit Farren Lamb converted, before doing the same for his own four-pointer 10 minutes later to make it 24-12.
The 12-point lead was still a reasonably comfortable one for the Dragons but when Nick Booth touched down five out from full-time and Lamb again added the extra, the hosts set up a grandstand finish.
The last five minutes were tense as the Josh Starling-coached Tigers desperately tried to find their fourth, but the Dragons held them out.
Mudgee now sit third on the ladder behind Bathurst Panthers, who had the bye on the weekend, and also-unbeaten Orange Hawks, and travel to Blayney's King George Oval in round three.
Oberon, on the other hand, will host Orange CYMS next Sunday afternoon.
- MUDGEE DRAGONS 24 (Jack Beasley, Jack Littlejohn, Casey Burgess, Nick Willson tries; Beasley 4 goals) def OBERON TIGERS 18 (Richie Peckham, Farren Lamb, Nick Booth tries; Lamb 3 goals)
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
