The red and whites – a club that donned green and gold throughout the 2018 season in the club’s 50^th anniversary year – were brilliant throughout a 22-6 grand final triumph at Sid Kallas Oval, Cowra.

The young Ned McCarney-led Dragons shot out to a 10-0 lead at the break before hulking St Pat’s sensation Volkan Gunduz produced a cracking grand final try, racing 70 metres and busting a throng of would-be Mudgee tackles to get the Bathurst boys back in the game at 10-6.

But from that point it was essentially all Mudgee.

Nicholas, who was a worthy winner of the grand final’s man of the match gong, scored then Demiah Aniuu crossed late to bump the Dragons’ advantage out to 16 points, a title winning lead.

It’s Mudgee’s third title in a row, having knocked off another Dragons side in the under 10s before edging Bloomfield in last year’s under 11s decider.

A third title in as many years, you couldn’t wipe the smile off the Dragons faces.

“It’s really exciting for the boys … and it just shows how hard it is to make it to a GF,” coach Justin McCarney said.

“To do it, and have that amount of class they have; they respect their opposition, respect each other and they’re a great bunch of boys to be around.”

Mudgee roared out of the gates and tries to the scintillating Gilby Brown and skipper McCarney rocketed the Dragons out to a 10-0 lead.

It was the sort of start the Dragons boys have produced all season, one capped by an undefeated premiership.

Mudgee coach, McCarney said the St Pat’s boys have been this season’s big improvers and an appearance in a grand final is something the club can be really proud of.

It’s a sentiment St Pat’s coach Tony England agrees with.

“Congratulations Mudgee, they were the better team today, but to my boys, commiserations. We played our hearts out,” he said post game.

“We’ve had a fantastic season. Don’t walk away unhappy. Hold your heads high, you’ve done a great job to get to the grand final.”