RUGBY LEAGUE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Dungog Warriors had their Newcastle Hunter Rugby League season ended at Raymond Terrace on Saturday while the East Maitland Griffins and Thornton Beresfield Bears survived to fight another day.
The Warriors were beaten 16-14 by Newcastle University in the C-grade minor semi-final at Lakeside Sporting Complex despite finishing the regular rounds in second position.
But Saturday’s defeat, compounded by a 26-24 loss to Stroud in the qualifying semi-final a week earlier, resulted in an early exit than expected for the Warriors.
Warriors winger TJ Hoch and second-rowers Aaron Locke and Kieran Hunt were the try scorers for Dungog.
Warriors fullback Lee Neville was successful with just one conversion and that proved costly for Dungog with University only crossing for two tries and kicking four goals.
University will now meet Gateshead in Saturday’s preliminary final at Waratah Oval with Stroud advancing to the decider courtesy of a 38-10 major semi-final win.
In A-grade the Griffins have set up a third clash with Belmont Souths in the space of a month after narrowly accounting for West Wallsend 22-18 in their minor semi-final on Saturday.
Griffins captain-coach Luke Mercer, fullback Kyle Wolcher, winger Brad Nichols and back-rower Larry Tafua managed four-pointers for East Maitland while centre Shaun Skuthorpe potted three goals.
The Griffins now have Belmont Souths in Saturday’s preliminary final at Waratah Oval, a fortnight after being blown away 56-14 by the same opponents in the qualifying semi-final and three weeks after winning their final round encounter 30-10.
Belmont Souths were beaten 34-28 by Wallsend Maryland in the major semi-final on Saturday.
And in D-grade the Bears were thumped 30-6 by minor premiers Carrington on Saturday and now tackle Gloucester this weekend’s for a shot at making the decider.
Grand finals will be played at Harker Oval on September 14.