Better ball handling, less risky football and solid defence from the Dragons, in cold and wet conditions, all played a part in their minor semi-final victory.

When the hosts finally got on the board 72 minutes had already elapsed and there were no Saints fairy tale comebacks to be found, unlike the 2014 preliminary final between the two sides at the same venue.

Dragons coach Tony Pascoe was thrilled for his side but said the job’s not done yet.

“I thought we played good wet weather football for the majority of that game. There was a period in the second half where we fell into a bit of a hole and invited them back into the game but our defence kept them out,” he said.

“We’ll work on that during the week, that bad 10 to 15-minute period, but I’m happy otherwise.

“It’s good to know that we’re in the last three but in the last two years the first grade side have got to this next game we’re going to and haven’t gone that extra step.”

It was a messy start to the minor semi-final as both sides struggled to hold the ball and each team gave away penalties.

When the Dragons earned a repeat set close to the Saints line in the 20^th minute they made the most of it.

Front rower Hamish Bryant dived over close to the sticks but Rota Setu’s missed conversion from in front left the scores at 4-0.

A Pat’s error from deep within their own half allowed Nathan Orr to scoop up the ball and take the visitors out to an 8-0 lead, just three minutes out from half-time.

A nightmare start to the second half unfolded for Pat’s when they dropped the ball on the kick-off and invited the Dragons to have a crack at their try line from just 10 metres out.

Robbie Clarkson didn’t let the chance go begging as he crossed for a try. The conversion from Sam Wooden took the Dragons out to a 14-0 lead.

For the following 20 minutes Pat’s struggled to escape from their own half. A combination of their own errors and the Dragons’ superior kicking game made the going tough for the Saints.

Eventually Pat’s got themselves close to the Dragons try line with an hour gone, where Pat’s winger Adam Morton almost got on the end of two grubber kicks.

Dragons quickly took the ball down the other end of the ground and almost scored in the 69^th minute when a bomb ricocheted off the cross bar and wound back up in their possession.

When the Saints got back inside the Mudgee half they made their long-awaited impact on the scoreboard.

Morton was not going to be denied a third time from a short kick but after his try Pat’s would need something special to reel back the remaining 10 points in just eight minutes.

That wasn’t to be after Dragons halfback Tim Condon pounced on a kick next to the uprights to put the result beyond doubt in the 75^th minute.