The Dragons showed they had the firepower and the game plan to beat the Roosters, but dropped ball inside their own half and some defensive errors cost the Highlanders.

Coach Randall Laughton said his team was extremely disappointed with their effort.

“We simply coughed up too much ball,” Laughton said.

“We dropped and dropped and dropped the ball and didn’t put our best foot forward.”

Moss Vale was forced to defend its tryline for much of the opening 20 minutes as Thirlmere camped deep inside the opposition’s half.

The Dragons defended valiantly, but their line cracked in the 23rd minute.

Moss Vale hit back soon after when Shane Rofe scored between the posts. Halfback Steve Fairbairn put up a highball that was spilt by the Roosters winger, before Josh Saunders scooped it up and sent Rofe over for their first try.

The match was locked at 6-6 at the break and both teams scored tries early in the second half and Thirlmere led 14-12.

The match turned on its head in the 61st minute when Moss Vale enforcer Daniel Washbourne was sin-binned and Thirlmere scored four tackles later.

Moss Vale kicked short from the ensuing kickoff and regained the ball 30m out from Thirlmere’s line.

Willie Macdonald barged over from close range and Fairbairn converted to make it 20-18 with 13 minutes left on the clock.

The Dragons got the ball back off the kickoff but again dropped it in their own half and Thirlmere made them pay.

The Roosters grubbered into the Dragons’ in-goal area, Moss Vale’s winger Josh Saunders spilt the ball and Luke Turner dived on the loose ball to score and make it 24-18.

Moss Vale were handed a golden opportunity to level the match in the dying moments.

As the fulltime siren blared, the Dragons were awarded a penalty 5m out from Thirlmere’s line.

The Roosters’ Leo Dynevor was sin-binned and Moss Vale had one play to send the match into extra time.

But somehow the ball was given to Scott Drewe, who hit it up and the match ended in a lull.

Thirlmere play Picton in the major-semi on Saturday night while Moss Vale square off against either East Campbelltown or Narellan at Narellan on Sunday.