THE Illawarra South Coast Dragons are still alive in the 2021 NSW open men's country championships.
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One week ago, it appeared their chances of defending their crown were over.
But due to results going their way and a massive 52-10 win against the North Coast Bulldogs on Saturday, Wade Forrester's side has scraped into fourth spot on the ladder.
During the side's 42-point win at Taree's Jack Neal Oval, Blair Grant (two), Chanse Perham (two), Sam Clune, Ryan James, Cam Vazzoler, Nathan Ford, Corey Mulhall crossed for four-pointers - with five-eighth Grant adding eight conversions.
This win sees the Dragons finish in equal-fourth on the ladder with the Western Rams.
And as both sides finished with a positive for and against of plus 26, the Dragons secured the last finals spot by scoring more points than the Rams (66 to 52) through their two matches.
Therefore, the Dragons, made all primarily of Group Seven players, will now face first-placed Riverina this Sunday in Canberra - with the winner to play either Monaro or Central Coast in the decider.
In other make-up washed up games at Taree, Adam Bezzina's Dragons lost their women's clash 12-4 to the Bulldogs, while Illawarra South Coast's Laurie Daley Cup side downed the North Coast 30-10.
In the latter game, Darby Turner (two), Ryan Couchman, Coleby Smith and Benjamin Rumble scored, to see the Dragons finish their campaign in fifth spot with two wins and three losses.
Finally, the Dragons' Andrew Johns Cup side edged the Bulldogs 18-16 thanks to a 59th-minute penalty goal from Clay Baldock.
In the win, Tristan Dawson, Caleb Hall and Jai Duncan all scored, to complete the Dragons perfect 5-0 regular season.
They will now face the 4-1 Monaro Colts in this Saturday's semi-final.