A disappointing end to a disappointing season.
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In many ways, Saturday’s loss summed up the Dubbo Rhinos’ year in New Holland Agriculture Cup.
Down on troops and battling for consistency across the 80 minutes, Rhinos were handed a 36-7 loss in the final round game at Mudgee’s Jubilee Oval.
The result means the Guy Turner-coached Rhinos outfit finishes the season with the wooden spoon while Mudgee will host CSU in next weekend’s minor semi-final.
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“It’s been a disappointing year,” Turner said.
“We had a couple of bad injuries (in the game) so we pretty much finished with only three backs out there.
“But that’s rugby. Injuries happen and we were just short on troops.”
The Wombats started the game brightly and shout out to a 17-0 lead by half-time.
With the Rhinos having only won three times all year it was going to be a huge ask to get back in the game.
Nacewa Nalagi crossed for the visitors but it was nowhere near enough as Mudgee finished its regular season in style.
“The game was played in the right spirit and it was a good game. It just wasn’t our season,” a dejected Turner said.
“There was some rain at the end of the game too. That was a pretty fitting way to end the season.
“But the boys were still relatively happy and no one gave up. They were still trying to score tries at the end.”
Injuries to James Vaughan and Jayden Powell during the game robbed the Rhinos of creativity and speed in the backline and that lack of firepower was telling against a physical Wombats outfit.
That has been the story of the year for the Rhinos with the likes of Tyson Fuller, Viliame Turuva, Vaughan, Powell, Ricky Weatherall and many other backs missing a host of fixtures.
The Rhinos finished the season with night straight losses but three of those were less by 10 points and games the Dubbo side controlled for periods.
“It really effected our consistency,” Turner said of his ever-changing lineup.
“We only had one time where we played the same team back-to-back and there was a lot of changes each week.
“That caused inconsistency and that wrecked our season.
“But it’s a young side and hopefully they can turn into key players and next year will be even better.”
The curtain also came down on the Rhinos women’s side’s season on Saturday, it suffered a 52-17 loss to Temora, but one positive is the second grade side advancing to the finals.
The Rhinos reserve grade side was also beaten by Mudgee on Saturday but still finishes fourth and will play the Wombats again in next weekend’s minor semi.