GUNNEDAH took their chances to end the Diggers two-game streak and run away with a big win at Scully Park on Sunday to book a spot in the Group 4 finals.
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Coming in on the back of two good wins, the Diggers had high hopes for their third home game in a row, although attacking errors dashed their hopes as the Bulldogs put the boot in at the end of the first half.
While the visitors were on the front foot early, the Diggers were hitting hard in defence lead by prop Sam Schifmman, although it didnt take long for the Bulldogs to break the line, Jordy Mullherin bursting over after centre Keegan Loughrey and winger Nic Altman combined to find plenty of room on the right side.
Diggers hot straight back through captain coach Tim Coombes, the big prop benefiting off a good run from Will Saunders to even the scores up, although when Aaron Donnelly crossed soon after the hosts would chase the scoreboard for the rest of the game.
Five-eighth Hayden Smith brushed off some weak defence to race half the field to score next, although again the Diggers hit back through Anthony Williams to get the score back to 16-10 before the hosts self imploded in the final few minutes of the half.
An attacking set on the line went pear shaped with a knock on at dummy half handing the ball over early in the set before Altman raced off to score a try against the run of play, the Bulldogs then backed it up with another minutes later to lead into the break 28-10.
Diggers drew first blood in the second half when Williams flicked a beautiful ball out of traffic on the line for Tim Walsh to score, although that would be the last points the hosts would egt as the Bulldogs ran rampant scoring some great tries for the crowd as they chanced their arm and showed some attacking prowess.
Halfback Callum Hayne was again a stand-out, although it was Loughrey that impressed the most to take the points.
The centre showing great speed and footwork to find plenty of space out wide, winger Altman crossing for his second from a good run, before Smith scored his second with a perfectly weighted grubber and regather.
Halves partner Hayne put the final nail in the Diggers season, crossing in the final minutes for a 46-16 win.
Injured captain coach Trent Hilton though that the win was a great way to bounce back from a loss to Narrabri last week.
“Our errors and completions were a lot better this week,” Hilton said. “That’s where I thought we won it.”
“We attacked on the back of good defence and that is what we have been training to do.”
In the other matches North tamworth remain undefeated after thrashing Narrabri, and Wests kept the rams winless with an 80 point victory in Armidale.