Jack Littlejohn's Mudgee Dragons continued their rampant start to the 2019 Group 10 premier league season on Sunday afternoon, making light work of one of the competition's other apparent heavyweights in Orange Hawks.
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Both sides went into the fourth round clash at Glen Willow Sporting Complex with unblemished records but the Dragons came out the other side unscathed, doing so comfortably as well, eventually claiming a convincing, 32-8 victory over the two blues.
After a brutal opening period the Dragons finally broke through in the 15th minute when Littlejohn, their captain-coach coach, touched down, Tom Lawson adding the extras.
Lawson duly did the same for both his first-half tries as well and while he missed his other attempt after Corin Smith's first of the day, he'd helped his Dragons rocket out to a 22-nil lead at the break.
That became 26-nil after Smith raced away for his second before Hawks finally opened their account through Jack Aumuller, but that highlight was short-lived as Aidan Woods scored again for the hosts and Lawson nailed the kick.
Jordan Baker did cross for the two blues in the dying stages but it was merely a consolation, largely thanks to Lawson's 16-point individual haul the result was already assured.
Although they're technically in a share of the competition lead with Bathurst Panthers Mudgee takes top spot thanks to their superior points difference, while Hawks drop to fourth.
- MUDGEE DRAGONS 32 (Tom Lawson 2, Corin Smith 2, Jack Littlejohn, Aidan Woods try; Lawson 4 goals) def ORANGE HAWKS 8 (Jack Aumuller, Jordan Bakers tries)
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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.
