Scott Blanch crossed twice as his North Tamworth Bears remained undefeated this season, and extended their home winning sequence to 40 straight matches, with a 44-16 defeat of Dungowan on Saturday.
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Norths scored three early, unanswered tries, the Cowboys struck back with two quick tries, before the Bears restored order to Jack Woolaston Oval and cruised to victory.
It was Norths' eighth straight win this season, and their 14th straight win if you include last season.
They scored eight tries to three and led 28-12 at halftime.
Chris Hunt, sidelined for most of the year with a knee injury, made his first-grade return against the Cowboys. He described Norths' performance as "pretty good".
"We just sort of didn't tuck that ball under our wing and go forward and do what we do best," said Hunt, No.1 and man of the match in the Bears' grand final win last year.
Blanch, Norths' captain-coach and No.6, scored the match's first try when he split the Cowboys' defence up the middle and raced about 30 metres to cross.
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Soon after that, Norths centre Andrew Moodie crossed after prop Alec Cocking found space on the left edge. Jake McManus converted: 10-0.
Immediately after the restart, Blanch terrorised last-placed Dungowan down the left flank and passed inside to fullback Mitch Sheridan, who raced over to score: 16-0.
But then Dungowan hit back via close-range tries to second-rower Ben Nash and lock Brett Jarrett: 16-12.
Norths' response was swift: Blanch orchestrated a left-edge raid attacking Dungowan's tryline and linked with back-rower McManus, who strolled over and then converted: 22-10.
The Bears' No.7 Kieran Fisher then crossed after showing good hustle inside Dungowan's 20m zone. McManus converted: 28-12.
And when Norths rake Cody Byrne scored early in the second half after going himself from dummy half on the Cowboys' tryline, to make 34-12 following McManus' conversion, it was a bridge too far for Dungowan.
North Tamworth 44 (Scott Blanch 2, Andrew Moodie, Mitch Sheridan, Jake McManus, Kieran Fisher, Cody Bryne, Zac Nigro tries; McManus 6 goals) d Dungowan 16 (Ben Nash, Brett Jarrett, Matt Jenner tries; Jarrett 2 goals)
