With four regular starters injured or away, the first grade Dragons ran away with an easy 48-16 over the second-last-placed Tigers.

Captain Daniel Drewe scored two of Moss Vale’s four tries in the opening 40 minutes to help set up a 24-10 halftime lead.

The Dragons scored another five tries in the second half to show why they are on top of the Group 6/Wests Juniors ladder and the Tigers are towards the bottom.

The win provided a valuable 32-point boost to Moss Vale’s for and against, which could come into play in the tight 2009 competition.

With two rounds left before the playoffs, Moss Vale are tied in first place with Picton on 23 points, while Thirlmere/ Tahmoor are in third on 22 and Narellan and East Campbelltown round out the top five on 17 points.

Moss Vale is on track for a minor premiership shoot out in the final round against Picton at Community Oval.

In yesterday’s match, Drewe opened the scoring in only the second minute but the Tigers hit back with two tries to take the lead 10-6.

Willie McDonald barged over for a try to put the Dragons in front 12-10 and the home team was never headed.

Drewe and stand-in fullback Tim Small bagged doubles, while McDonald, Robert Wiya, Tom Hayter, Nick Wilkinson and Jess Micaleff all scored one try each.

Moss Vale coach Randall Laughton said he was happy to pick up the competition points but his team would have to improve heading into the semi-finals. It was the Dragons seventh straight win.

Moss Vale’s reserve grade team also won, out-playing the Tigers 36-14.

The match was locked at 14-all at halftime before a strong second half by the Dragons kept their semi-finals ambitions alive. Reserve grade’s best were Andrew Hindmarsh and Chris Barton.