The Dragons travelled almost 500 kilometres to run onto Alec Inch Oval and the opening salvos in the game proved they were there to play rugby league.

Both teams exchanged bruising blows and opened up gaps in their opponent's defence but neither team was unable to capitalise until Paulson crossed for the opening try of the game in the 18th minute.

Paulson converted his own try to give Town a 6-0 lead but Doomadgee hit back seven minutes later when winger Darcy Isaac made a flying run along the sideline to score in the corner.

A try in the 29th minute gave Paulson his second four-pointer and Town a 10-6 lead.

When Wyatt Walsh and second-rower Rohan Schulz touched down in quick succession before half-time, Town were ahead 20-4 at the break.

The scoreboard reflected a 16-point margin, but the game was a lot closer on the paddock, with Doomadgee unlucky not to convert several breaks in play.

Town began the second half the way it ended the first when prop Dean Howard burst through the defensive line for the team's fifth try.

Glendon Connolly put the Dragons back in the picture when he crossed in the 52nd minute and with Garth Toby's conversion successful, the visitors trailed 24-10.

Lock Craig Logan's 60th minute try handed Doomadgee back-to-back tries and the control and momentum of the game.

A vocal crowd of about 200 rugby league fans were being treated to a thrilling battle and they hit fever pitch when Schulz crossed for his second try of the night in the 65th minute.

Paulson slotted an easy kick to take the score to 30-14 as the referee sent Doomadgee centre Denley Foster for a 10-minute rest in the sin bin.

The game had well and truly swung back in Town's direction and with the Dragons a man short, Paulson found a hole in defence to sprint 60 metres and place the ball under the black dot.

With eight minutes remaining in the game, Town led 36-14, but the visitors were relentless in both attack and defence, despite the game now being out of reach.

Travis Willets crossed the line for Town's eighth try in the 77th minute, which was converted effortlessly by Paulson to move the score to 42-14.

When the full-time siren sounded, Paulson finished with an individual haul of 22 points and the sideline was littered with bruised players after a fantastic battle of the heavyweights.

TOWN 42 (Marty Paulson 3 Rohan Schulz 2 Wyatt Walsh Dean Howard Travis Willets Marty Paulson 5 goals) bt DOOMADGEE 14 (Darcy Isaac Glendon Connolly Craig Logan tries Garth Toby goal)