Illawarra too strong for North Coast | Photos

Taree City's Trae Clark worked his way over in the corner to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.

Wauchope hooker Joss Cleal scored the last try of the game and this was converted by Owen Blair from Kempsey. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Illawarra South Coast scored 52 points in between to win the contest 52-10.

North Coast went into the game needing to win by 12 to gain a place in the semi-finals next weekend. However, Illawarra South Coast looked yards faster than their northern rivals and the score had blown to 24-4 by halftime. Tries kept coming at a rapid rate in the second half until the heat finally took a toll, with the game played in 30 degree temperatures.

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Clark injured his ankle soon after scoring and failed to see out the game, although he is expected to be fit for the opening game of the Group Three season on April 10.

North Coast coach Dan Kemp couldn't fault the effort from his players.

"It was a very tough day,'' Kemp said.

"On a day like this it's very hard going and we dropped too much footy. It's all the clichés mate, we dropped too much footy and we gave away too many penalties.

"It was always going to be however ran out of fuel first...unfortunately it was us.''

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