Sending it on: Zac McKiernan gets a pass away for the Lower Macleay Magpies.
LONG Flat Dragons’ Hastings League campaign for 2012 is over, after they were beaten by the Lower Macleay Magpies in a high-scoring minor semi-final on Saturday.
The Magpies triumphed 46-30 at Lank Bain Complex, Wauchope, to progress to the preliminary final against the Comboyne Tigers next weekend.
James Keaton, Trent Dixon, Shaun Bannerman, Josh Henry and Vance Byles scored tries for Long Flat, and James Mumford had a perfect day, booting all five conversions.
Luke Dufty swooped on two tries for the Magpies, while Tom Arndell, Michael Hughes, Ben Jackson, Zac McKiernan and Junior Albert also crossed the line.
Long Flat took just two minutes to get on the board through Keaton, before Dixon scored seven minutes later.
Arndell, Hughes and Jackson hit back for the Magpies, before Bannerman levelled the scores again at 18 apiece.
The next 15 minutes was all Magpies, with Dufty, McKiernan and Skinner bagging tries.
Skinner’s try was the highlight of the afternoon.
He was on the end of a perfect chip kick from Joel McCafferty to score in the corner.
The Dragons were still in the hunt with 14 minutes of the match remaining, when Henry scored and converted his own try, but another Magpies try to Albert and a second for Dufty snuffed out any hope Long Flat had.
Byles’ try with three minutes to go though ensured the Flat finished its season on a high.
