MOLONG are the first casualty of the 2008 President’s Cup finals after losing Sunday’s elimination semi final 29-3 to Mudgee.

The Magpies were outplayed by the Wombats at Mudgee’s Jubilee Oval with the hosts’ forward pack the catalyst for the sudden-death victory.

Molong coach Mark Giumelli lamented bowing out so early but complimented the performance of the Mudgee side.

“It’s disappointing I suppose, we thought we could have gone further,” Giumelli said.

“They were the better side. Each time they played us this year they did the same to us.

“They really dominated our scrum in parts and if you struggle winning your own ball you’re going to struggle.”

Giumelli also applauded the efforts of his players in the loss as they gave their all until the final whistle despite knowing their season would soon be coming to an end.

The mentor doesn’t believe the scoreline reflects the intensity of his team.

“It might have been an indication of the game but it wasn’t an indication of the effort we put in,” he said.

Mudgee got out to an early 3-0 lead through a Tim Bartlett penalty goal before Adam Rayner crossed for a try to get the hosts out to 8-0.

Molong hit back with a penalty goal of their own to fly-half John Mulhall but that was to be their one and only scoring play.

Rayner then added another try on the stroke of half-time, with Bartlett converting for a 15-3 lead at the break.

Carlos Rahme and Andrew Webb recorded second-half tries to see Mudgee run out 29-3 winners and they will now take on Yeoval this weekend needing a victory to stay alive.

Blayney will also face Wellington in the grand final qualifier this weekend, with the loser of this game to face the winner between Yeoval and the Wombats.

Giumelli thinks all remaining teams have the potential to take out the President’s Cup but he believes Mudgee’s forwards will get them over the line against Wellington in what he anticipates to be the grand final.