Bathurst Panthers have backed up their comprehensive 58-0 defeat of Cowra last weekend, piling on the half-century, again, against defending premiers Mudgee Dragons at Glen Willow on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Fresh of the back of a hefty victory last weekend, the Dragons would have hoped for better, but were ultimately defeated 56-26 against the red hot Panthers.
Coming into round eight just two points off the dominant leaders, Orange CYMS, and with two of the top five try scorers in the competition, the Panthers knew they had to make a big statement against the defending premiers at their own ground and boy they did.
It was a sending off that dictated the opening ten minutes of the match, with Ben Thompson heading for the sheds and leaving the Dragons with just twelve men on the field to open the match.
Kade Barrow scored two while the Panthers had the numerical advantage, which set the foundations for his four-star haul across the match.
The roles reversed soon after however, as the travelling Bathurst squad had one of their own sent off for an incident in the ruck, and the Dragons tied the game off the back of a Jared Robinson try followed soon after by Jake Hellegers.
Barrow proved completely dominant down the Panthers’ left flank, and Siejka, Cassidy and Betts each added their own in the first half.
Long-ranged kicks from deep and wide stretching plays proved too much for the Dragon flanks however, as Barrow pocketed his fourth.
Mudgee’s defeat was dampened by Charlie Clayton disappearing into the sheds just fifteen minutes out from the final buzzer.
Mudgee’s Pete Hickman said despite the injuries, is confident of better results.
“If we get our full side, I haven’t seen a side out there that we can’t beat,” he said.
