HIGHLANDS league teams will feature in six of the 10 Group 6 minor and major semi-finals this weekend after Moss Vale’s reserves and under-18 Paccon Plate teams both won their elimination finals 30-12 at Oakdale on Sunday.

Mittagong’s under-18 Veolia Pennant and DNC Cup Lions play in the minor semi-final at Warragamba on Saturday night, while the under-18 Veolia Pennant Robertson Spuds play Warragamba in the major semi-final at The Oaks on Sunday.

The first grade Dragons take on Thirlmere in the major semi-final at Camden on Sunday for a spot in grand final at Community Oval, Moss Vale, on August 31.

Dragons reserves coach Owen Saunders said his team played the “best they had all year” and “it was the strongest team he had had” in their 18-point win.

The Dragons led 12-4 at the half after the Rams gifted them the opening try. Following a Dragons kick behind the Rams line a Camden player got caught in-goal, panicked, and threw a pass right to Dragons halfback Steve Meuleman, who happily planted the ball.

The Rams hit back to make it 6-4 but Dragon Scott Bishop scored a terrific intercept try from halfway to give Moss Vale an eight-point halftime advantage.

Straight after the break Dragon lock Troy Barrington crossed, but Camden put the pressure back on Moss Vale with back-to-back tries reducing the gap to 16-12 .

The Dragons got a penalty goal with 15 minutes to go to make it 18-12 and, five minutes from the end, piled on back-to-back tries of their own, to Ben Murchie and Bishop, to seal their minor semi-final berth.

For the full story see the full story in the Southern Highland News, Wednesday, August 13

sport.highlandnews@ruralpress.com