The Under 18's are usually considered apart of the Group 3 senior competition however changes have been made that sees the 18's play under the Group 3 junior rugby league umbrella this year.

The Mustangs secured a 12-6 win and will hope to continue their good form next weekend against Forster-Tuncurry Hawks who smashed Port City Breakers 24-8.

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Try-scorers for the Mustangs were Mason Powick, Harrison Nemme and Tirell Dungay.

Coach, Reuben Jones, said his side really had to dig deep after losing a player early.

"We went down to 12 men within the first 10 minutes of the game after a player was sent off for an indiscretion," he told the Argus.

"The boys worked really hard and to come away with a win one man down was a big effort against a strong Macksville side who I believe are a title contender."

Jones, who is also President of the Kempsey Dragons, explained that the cancellation of rugby league due to COVID-19 has made his Mustangs side more committed at training.

"We played a lot better than I thought we would in terms of fitness - especially with 12 men."

"We're not normally consistent with numbers at training but this year almost everyone has been to every session and I think that's something to with the boys missing footy and grateful they're able to get out there and have a run."

The Kempsey Dragons junior sides also kicked off their season with the Under 16's boys going down 26-20 to the Taree Panthers.

Dragons under 16's women's league tag side walked away from Verge Street Oval with massive smiles, destroying Bowraville 52-0 with the mercy rule brought in after the score reached that stage.

Smithtown Tigers under 15's also won convincingly, defeating Bowraville 32-6.

Jones said the day went really well with COVID-19 restrictions applied.

"The junior and senior clubs have merged together so we have more volunteers now and things ran really smoothly," he said.