CUDGEN have thumped Casino 44-6 in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League (NRRRL) semi-final at Queen Elizabeth Park, Casino on Sunday.

The win over Casino, who Cudgen failed to defeat on two occasions during the season, moves the Hornets into the major semi-final against minor premier Murwillumbah at Stan Sercombe Oval on Sunday.

Casino will have to regroup after a frustrating afternoon, where they finished with 12 men after second-rower Jake Lyons was sent off for dissent late in the game.

Lyons had already spent time in the sin-bin in the first half with hooker Chad Taylor and second-rower Owen Avery also getting 10 minutes.

The game was effectively over as a contest at half-time with Cudgen up 24-0 after tries to Myles Donnelly, Jake Sands, Caleb Ziebell and Dom Murray.

Donnelly made plenty metres up the middle before he was sent to the sin-bin along with centre Luke Dumas in the second half.

The Cougars were having all sorts of problems on the right edge and second-rower Josh Sleba extended the lead to 30-0 when he scored down that side early in the second half.

Lyons was the only try- scorer for Casino before he was given an early shower by referee Josh Gollan as the points continued to flow.

Sands scored his second try of the afternoon and added penalty goal before winger Zac Spring added further insult with a late try.

Second-rower Damien Benn put in his usual whole-hearted performance for Casino but needed support from the players around him.

The Cougars could be out in straight sets with a home game against a red-hot Northern United when they host the minor semi-final on Saturday.

In reserve grade, Casino defeated Marist Brothers 16-14 and in the Under-18s Cudgen defeated Lower Clarence 30-12.

NRRRL major semi-final:

Murwillumbah v Cudgen.

Stan Sercombe Oval, Sunday