The South Newcastle Lions produced one of their best performances of the Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League (Real NRL) season on Sunday but it wasn’t enough to upset the Maitland Pickers.
The competitions leaders trailed 12-6 at Townson Oval before storming home to prevail 24-16.
Winger Marshall Sing gave Souths the start it wanted and, when Jason Keelan converted, the hosts led 6-0 after seven minutes.
Maitland hit back through Matt Soper-Lawler. Brock Lamb added the extras to level things up at 6-all at the break.
The Lions regained the ascendancy in the 47th minute when Sing captured his second of the afternoon. Although Keelan missed the attempt, Souths hit the front 10-6.
A penalty to Keelan then pushed the margin out to 12-6.
But, the Maitland Pickers regained their composure.
Youngster Tom Cant, who recently made his first grade debut, scored in the 67th minute, with Lamb raising the flags for 12-all.
Soper-Lawler (73rd) and five-eighth Chad O’Donnell (76th), along with a brace of goals, pushed Maitland ahead 24-12.
The Lions showed plenty of heart in the dying seconds with Sing registering try number three.
However, the gallant loss still leaves Souths languishing at the bottom of the table.
UNDER-19s: Cessnock v Lakes United. Photos: @vaggabond_photography 
Meanwhile, in the other clash, the Western Suburbs Rosellas maintained a top five spot on the ladder following a 41-6 thrashing of the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs at Harker Oval on Saturday.
The red-hot Rosellas, unbeaten for more than a month, grabbed the early advantage at home when winger Pat Achurch (7th) and Liam Wiscombe (29th) touched down, with Logan Radzievic converting both.
A Max Buderus field goal right on the stroke of half-time gave the hosts a handy 13-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, there was no respite after the interval either.
Ryan Walker (45th), Achurch’s second (51st) and Heath Gibbs (54th), as well as a further two Radzievic goals, put Wests further in front 29-0.
That soon became 41-0 when Wiscombe crossed in the 57th and 59th minute to grab a well-deserved hat-trick.
Radzievic made no mistake with his shots between the uprights.
Kurri Kurri secured a consolation try in the 72nd minute when Tyler Randell cracked the Rosellas’ defence.
Ethan Niszczot piloted the ball over the black dot.
COVID draws were awarded to the remaining matches: Wyong Roos v Macquarie Scorpions, Cessnock Goannas v Lakes United Seagulls, and The Entrance Tigers v Central Newcastle Butcher Boys.
Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League
NSWRL Denton Cup
Round 13 results:
Maitland Pickers 24 (Matt Soper-Lawler 2, Tom Cant, Chad O’Donnell tries; Brock Lamb 4 goals) defeated South Newcastle Lions 16 (Marshall Sing 3 tries; Jason Keelan 2 goals)
Western Suburbs Rosellas 40 (Liam Wiscombe 3, Patrick Achurch 2, Ryan Walker, Heath Gibbs tries; Logan Radzievic 6 goals; Max Buderus field goal) defeated Kurri Kurri Bulldogs 6 (Tyler Randell try; Ethan Niszczot goal)
Wyong Roos v Macquarie Scorpions – COVID draw
Cessnock Goannas v Lakes United Seagulls – COVID draw
The Entrance Tigers v Central Newcastle Butcher Boys – COVID draw
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