THE unbeaten start to the Group 10 season for Bathurst Panthers came to a shuddering halt at Carrington Park on Sunday courtesy of a Mudgee Dragons team who found their greatest performance of the year to date.
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Dragons claimed a 24-16 win over the competition leaders in a game that nearly matched the 2019 grand final between the two teams in terms of tension and passion.
Panthers brought the ball into the Mudgee half with less than a minute remaining on the clock, down 18-16, but an intercept try to Josh Wilson-Tuckey secured the win for the Dragons.
"We spoke all week about what we needed to do to beat Panthers. They're a great team who haven't been beaten yet, and the two performances we tossed up over the past two games haven't been up to our standard and we addressed that," Dragons captain Jared Robinson said.
"A performance like that was amazing. I think it was grit that got us the win. Our attitude hasn't been right lately and we needed to change that.
"We had back-to-back sets on D and it was great seeing us get out of trouble on a couple of occasions today."
The teams exchanged strong sets over the opening seven minutes before a dropped bomb from Panthers gave Dragons the best chance of the game to score.
Mudgee didn't take that opportunity but were handed another one moments later when a Panthers kick sailed out on the full.
Dragons' Pacey Stockton found space to score next to the uprights and send an early message to the defending premiers that they were in for a good contest.
Panthers entered the Dragons 20m area on three sets before the 20 minute mark but struggled to find a way through a well co-ordinated Mudgee defence.
They eventually got their breakthrough in the 21st minute when Abel Lefaoseu breached the defensive line, making it 6-4 to Dragons.
Dragons dialled up the pressure on Panthers over the 10 minute leading up to half-time, enjoying plenty of time near the hosts' try line.
The sustained attack eventually reaped rewards when Luke Moody skipped away from a tackle and scored to make it 12-4 at half-time.
Dragons didn't let their momentum slip in the new half of football - putting themselves right back into Panthers territory with a 40-20 in the 45th minute.
That led to a well deserved try for front rower Clay Priest, who had been the driving force for the Dragons attack down the middle all game.
Things looked like they weren't going to get any better for Panthers when Willie Wright was sin binned for a late hit on Harry Siejka after he'd kicked the ball downfield.
However, Panthers immediately scored despite the player disadvantage when Keelan Bresac shook off several defenders to score in the right corner.
Panthers scored with eight minutes to go, through Joey Bugg, to set up a thrilling finish.
But Tuckey spoiled the Panthers' fightback attempt with his intercept and 60-metre run towards the uprights.
"It was a similarly style of footy to what Mudgee were playing in 2019, where if you let them slow the play down and slow the ruck you struggle to make ground. Then they bring the ball up through the middle," Panthers manager Danny Dwyer said.
"Harry Siejka's kicking game was great and it put us under a lot of pressure. They came out with a lot of intent on the back of a disappointing effort last week against St Pat's. With a couple of players back they were really focused."
MUDGEE DRAGONS 24 (Pacey Stockton, Luke Moody, Clay Priest, Josh Wilson Tuckey tries; Harry Siejka 4 conversions) defeated BATHURST PANTHERS 16 (Abel Lefaoseu, Keelan Bresac, Joey Bugg tries; Josh Rivett, Willie Wright conversions)
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