Everything seemed to work for the Red Dogs in their runaway 48-28 win over a shell-shocked Mallabula who went into the game steady favourites in third place on the ladder.

The first half saw the two teams go try for try as co-coach and player Adam Massie opened his hat-trick of tries with a brilliant solo effort.

The Red Dogs went to the break 28-24 point leaders, and returned with what looked like a brand new defensive line.

Mallabula scored just once in the second half and in return opened the flood gates for the home side.

Reserve players and brothers Matthew and Mick Akers linked up early in the second half to add a four pointer, igniting the West Maitland crowd.

Front rower Tristan Agnew made a line-break on his own 30m line and ran 70m to bump-off both Mallabula wingers and add another four

points.

A double to the Red Dogs’ Andrew Roberts won him the praise of injured captain Shawn Humbles and saw the game slip away from Mallabula. Humbles also applauded the success of the Akers brothers and the almost impenetrable Red Dogs defensive line in the second half.

“The Akers boys put on an excellent try and that really got the crowd going,” he said.

“After half-time our defence really stiffened up and they hardly got through us at all.

“I think they expected to come up here and smash us, but we were just too hard.

“We are just taking it one week at a time at the moment.”

One game at a time might be the best way forward for the Red Dogs as the task ahead to enter the top five is a big one. They are still at least one win away from catching fifth placed Wangi Wangi and will no doubt rely on favourable results in games other than their own. Their competition still has three rounds remaining.