The Dragons were obliterated 44-0 by Thirlmere in last Sunday’s major semi-final in one of their worst performances of the season, but Moss Vale skipper Lee Trasler promised fans it would be a different team come Sunday.

“We having nothing to lose and will play with a lot more confidence,” he said.

“The three-week break, because Group 6 let teams forfeit to us, didn’t help and we had hardly any ball. We only had 25 sets and completed 12, while we usually have 25 a half.”

The Dragons could not string together back-to-back sets against the Roosters and poor ball control again cost them dearly. Defence has been the backbone of their success, but they were cut to pieces with eight unanswered tries last Sunday.

The bruising encounter left injury clouds over Brett Clarke, Scott Bishop and Elliot Esquilant, but Trasler said Mark Delamont, who carried an ankle injury against the Roosters, was right for the Workers clash.

With Moss Vale hosting the August 31 decider, and the two other Dragons teams eliminated, Sunday is the club’s last chance to have a team in their first grand final day in decades.

Trasler said Sunday was about rewarding the teams’ faithful fans.

“We need to do it for our fans, and if we stop Oakdale’s forwards laying a platform we will have won half the battle,” he said.

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Friday, August 22

sport.highlandnews@ruralpress.com