To say the home side “won ugly” would be a fair comment, but at least the two competition points keep the Tigers just two points adrift of the top five.

In front of an unusually quiet home crowd the Tigers ran out winners 34-28 after trailing 24-14 at half time.

The first half started badly for Oberon as Mudgee jumped out of the blocks scoring a converted try after only four minutes of play. The Dragons quickly followed up with a long-range effort through their pacey backs to extend their lead to 12-0.

The Tigers’ engine was spluttering and the crowd must have sensed it as they looked on in relative silence.

At the 15-minute mark, gun centre Jackson Brien was on the end of a quick passing movement to scurry over out wide to open the Tigers’ account. Ben McAlpine couldn’t convert and the scoreline read 12-4 to Mudgee.

As the two teams settled into the contest, McAlpine cross-kicked to aerial specialist Brenton Gibson who made his first appearance after sustaining a serious thumb injury in the pre-season. After out-leaping the defence Gibson offloaded to Abel Lefaoseu who bulldozed over just in from the sideline.

McAlpine’s attempted conversion sailed wide to leave the score at 12-8.

Mudgee quickly regathered their composure and once again scored a length of the field try to skip away to a 18-8 lead. The Tigers’ defence again cracked soon after with the Dragon’s winger flashing over in the corner. The try was converted and Mudgee took a commanding 24-8 advantage.

That man, Brien, again reignited the Oberon team, slicing through the Mudgee defence in a determined run to score a much needed try. McAlpine added the extras and the Tigers were back in the game at 24-14 and continued to hammer the Dragons’ line until the half time break. 

The Tigers went into the sheds knowing they were well down on performance. 

The second half started much better for the Tigers with a try close to the posts at the three-minute mark to Blake Fitzpatrick. McAlpine converted to narrow the gap to 24-20 with the home crowd beginning to find their voice.

From that point on the Tigers applied unrelenting pressure. After a well-rehearsed move Anton Wereta scored with McAlpine converting to put the home team in front for the first time at 26-24.

However Mudgee refused to give in and with 15 minutes remaining struck back to wrestle the lead off Oberon with a try that they failed to convert.

At 28-26 in favour of the visitors and with the clock winding down the game was on a knife’s edge. Oberon rallied to again put Mudgee under pressure with Luke Christie-Johnston being denied a try, falling short by mere millimeters.

Unfortunately the game was delayed at this point due to the Mudgee fullback being knocked out and officials needing to request ambulance assistance. After a break of nearly 40 minutes the game eventually resumed.

With seven minutes remaining on the clock ‘man of the match’ Blake Fitzpatrick saw an opportunity and scooted through a gap to score under the posts for an easy McAlpine conversion to push the Tigers to the front once again at 32-28.

With two minutes left the Tigers received a kickable penalty which McAlpine slotted over to take out a scrappy match 34-28. Players’ player and man of the match went to Blake Fitzpatrick with Jackson Brien and Brenton Gibson picking up the 2 and 1 points.

First Division continued their strong form with a dominant 30-12 win. This team is enjoying great depth in the squad and on their day can make their presence felt against any team. The under 18s, in what proved to be the match of the day, drew 18 all in a see-sawing game playing a man short for most of the second half due to a send-off. The League Tag girls went down 20-4 but in no way did the scoreline reflect the closeness of the game.

The Tigers travel to Blayney this Sunday before returning home for the last two games of the round when coach Luke Branighan should be back on deck to face heavyweights Bathurst Panthers and Orange Hawks.