DUNGOWAN Cowboys could have ended Gunnedah's semi-final hopes when they kicked early, and then late, to win 34-26 in Sunday's Group 4 first grade clash at Dungowan Recreation Reserve.
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The Cowboys led 10-nil early after tries to Jone Marau and Liam Mack but were behind 22-10 at half-time when the Bulldogs found their best form of the season to score four tries.
Aaron Donnelly crossed for two of those with typical, strong, straight running.
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Lachlan King also latched onto a Reece Jaeger cross field kick to dive over and then Dylan O'Brien danced his way through some tiring defence to score a wonderful individual try against his old club.
The Cowboys took charge of the second half early on when Trent Taylor's towering bomb caught fullback Nick White out.
Pat Lange was first to the bouncing ball to score and set the home side on a winning path.
Matt Wilson then dummied and feinted to the Bulldog defenders before offloading a one-handed pass to fullback Blair Maloney and the rangy number one brought the side within two points.
Hayden Summerfield and Brett Jarrett launched raids at the Gunnedah line before captain-coach Shaun Ferguson charged as well and crashed through for his side to lead 26-22.
And when Jarrett pulled in a pass, behind him, to score in a similar position the Cowboys were up 30-22.
Gunnedah still had a shot though.
They fought back and when King dived over out wide for his second try of the day it looked possible the Dogs could snatch a win.
Both sides gave up possession before Ferguson settled the game. His big run enabled him to hand the ball to his centre and missile Marau for the match-sealer.
A deserving win for the Cowboys but a soul-destroying fifth straight loss for Gunnedah.
"Our first 15 minutes was atrocious," Gunnedah coach Mick Schmiedel said.
"We were lucky to be down just 10-nil.
"The next 25 minutes was the proudest I've been all year. We got ourselves back in the game. Played good, grinding football."
Schmiedel said but the side played "dumb football" in the second half.
"To lead 22-10 and get beat is very frustrating," he said.
"We were pretty poor."
He thought KC Edmonds "was enormous for us" and Liam Ireland "played well out of position" at lock.
The fact his side is still committing the same mistakes and errors week in and week out makes it a "frustrating season".
Meanwhile, Ferguson was delighted for his players.
"The boys got the rewards today of all their hard work," he said.
"We've had a lot of bad luck with injuries and bad calls this year.
"You have to execute at above 60 per cent in this game and we haven't done that. Made it hard on ourselves, I've been guilty of those simple mistakes too. That was massive today. We also had one in the bin (Nathan McGuire) and still scored a try while he was off. That's the character in this side."
He said a number of players "played injured".
"Brett Jarrett stayed out there," he said.
"Cody (Byrne), Nathan (McGuire), Lochie (Collins) were all injured. Pat Lange had a massive game for us too. Hayden Summerfield was great."
Prop Jason Allwood also made some telling tackles in the first half when the Cowboys were under immense pressure.
FIRST GRADE (for and against in brackets): Kootingal (319-144) 16, Narrabri (236-174) 15, North Tamworth (288-189) 12, Moree (238-208) 12, Boggabri (208-306) 8, Gunnedah (233-256) 6, Werris Creek (182-322) 4, Dungowan (185-292) 3.
DUNGOWAN 34 (Jone Marau 2, Brett Jarrett, Shaun Ferguson, Blair Maloney, Pat Lange, Liam Mack tries, Trent Taylor 2, Brock Morgan gls) d GUNNEDAH 26 (Aaron Donnelly 2, Lachlan King,2 Dylan O'Brien tries, Dylan O'Brien 3gls), G4 B&F: 3 Shaun Ferguson (D), 2 Brett Jarrett (D), 1 Zac Turnbull (G).
Second Grade: MANILLA 40 (Shannon O'Leary 2, Bareki Knox, Barega Knox, tries, Mitch Doring 6gls) d DUNGOWAN 0. G4 B&F: 3 Mitch Doring (M), 2 Zane Woods (D), 1 Daniel Earl (M).
Ladies League Tag: DUNGOWAN 60 (Jada Taylor 6, Ellie New 2, Jamie Blackler, Chloe Shanley tries, Emma Carrigan 5, Sarah Stackman 3gls) d MANILLA 4 (Kim Flett try) G4 B&F: 3 Jada Taylor (D), 2 Kim Flett (M), 1 Emma Carrigan (D).
Under 18: DUNGOWAN 28 (Oscar Spinks, Mitchell Henderson, Archie Wainwright, Jordan Butler, Nick Hooley tries, Henderson 4gls) d GUNNEDAH 10 (Lincolnlea Phillips, Bailey Swain tries, Swain gl) G4 B&F: 3 Mitch Henderson (D), 2 Ethan Antzakles (D), 1 Joash Boney (G).
