The Group 10 Lithgow Wolves under 18s side were unable to match an enthusiastic Mudgee Dragons in their 10-26 qualifying final loss on Sunday.
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It is not the end of the season for the young Wolves but they now face a longer road to make the grand final.
Lithgow Wolves coach Graeme Osborne said the players are all disappointed at the loss but are ready to go again at training on Tuesday with their season now on the line.
After their disjointed season Osborne said one positive to come out of the Dragons game was they had played two matches on the trot.
“It might do us some good to play a few games concurrently.”
Lithgow came out of the blocks at Carrington Park in Bathurst with a try to Nick Miller. It was converted by Dylan Glynn to make the score 6-0.
The Wolves held the lead with the Dragons bouncing back shortly after getting a try in the fifth minute but unable to convert.
With the game at 6-4 in the Wolves favour the Dragons found some fire and scored another four tries unanswered.
One came before halftime but the other three came in a seven minute window in the second half that blew the Wolves out of the game.
The Wolves’ coach said the turning point in the game was just before the three tries about six minutes into the second half.
“We were attacking them down on their line and we were pulled up for a double movement.
“Four tackles later Mudgee had got up our end and scored on the left edge.”
Trailing 26-6 Lithgow did manage to pull one back through Byron Wilson.
It was not converted and the score remained 26-10.
Osborne said that the young Wolves were out enthused by the Dragons and that they made too many errors and bad decisions.
“Mudgee played some good footy.
“Our completion rate was 62 per cent. You can not compete giving away that much ball.”
The Wolves will have a chance to make amends this Saturday against the Bathurst Panthers in an elimination final.
The Wolves have beaten Panthers in both their match ups this year and will take some confidence into the game.
If they win against Panthers they will get a shot at the winner of next week’s grand final qualifier between Orange Cyms and Mudgee Dragons.
MUDGEE DRAGONS: E Butler 3, J Beasley, R O’Connor tries; J Beasley 3 goals, defeated LITHGOW WOLVES 10: N Miller, B Wilson tries; D Glynn goal.
In the other under 18s semi final Oberon Tigers season ended against the Bathurst Panthers 28-20.
