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GALLERY: Pickers wrap up Real NRL minor premiership

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Attack was the key to success in the Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League (Real NRL) at the weekend.

In just three matches on Saturday 24 July, a total of 152 points were amassed among the six participants and, amazingly, the second-placed Central Newcastle Butcher Boys were held scoreless.

The Cessnock Goannas taught the Macquarie Scorpions a lesson in their 40-16 victory at the Cessnock Sportsground.

Rep hooker Billy Gilbert (6th), Connor Kirkwood (22nd) and Harvey Neville (27) touched down in the opening stanza, with Adrian Davis booting two goals, to give the hosts a handy 16-0 lead.

But, a late try to winger Ro Buaserau, converted by Kerrod Holland, allowed the Scorpions to trail 16-6 at the break.

The Goannas came out firing with Gilbert (44th) and Neville (52nd) bagging pairs, and Wyatt Shaw (60th) and Mitchell Smith (65) also crossing.

Davis added another four goals to extend the advantage to 40-6.

Macquarie put some respectability into the scoreline, courtesy of Buaserau (71st) and Andrew Sumner (76th) in the dying moments.

The Maitland Pickers wrapped up the NSWRL Denton Cup minor premiership, thrashing the Butcher Boys 34-0 at the Maitland Showground.

Singleton Greyhounds junior William Nieuwenhuise broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, with Brock Lamb converting, to place the home side ahead 6-0.

After another softening-up period, the Pickers increased that margin to 16-0, via winger Perry Le Brocque (26th) and Chad O’Donnell (38th).

Lamb was on target once more as the combatants headed to the sheds.

Maitland’s dominance continued in the second half, with a further three four-pointers to winger James Bradley (58th) and back-to-back efforts to centre Matt Soper-Lawler (70th, 76th).

Lamb added another three goals in the shut-out, as the Pickers chase a historic President’s Cup-Real NRL double in successive seasons.

In a high-scoring fixture at the Kurri Kurri Sportsground, the Lakes United Seagulls came from the clouds to upset the Bulldogs 34-28.

Kurri Kurri appeared in the box seat when Lachlan Hill (6th) and Brady Hammond (10th) crossed over, aided by conversions to Ethan Niszczot, to lead 12-0.

However, Lakes United winger Callan Guest reduced the gap to 12-4.

Fullback Barry McGrady then broke the Seagulls’ line to put the Bulldogs further in front 18-4, following Niszczot’s successful shot.

Lakes United refused to surrender and centre James Johnson gave the visitors some hope in the 36th minute, making it 18-8 at the interval.

The Seagulls moved closer to their rivals when Christopher Veaila found his way to the tryline. Ex-NRL star Joel Edwards piloted the ball between the uprights for 18-14.

But, Kurri Kurri responded through Tyler Randell (47th), and Niszczot, to claim a slight buffer at 24-14.

Gifted Lakes United hooker Luke Huth had other ideas and stamped his class on the match.

Two tries in the space of a handful of minutes, plus goals to Edwards, allowed the Seagulls to regain the ascendency at 26-24.

The Bulldogs weren’t finished yet, with Lachlan Hill (68th) setting up an exciting finale at 28-26.

It was left to captain Nash Birch, in the 73rd minute, to guide Lakes United to a morale-boosting win.

Edwards, who converted the skipper’s endeavour, also landed a penalty to wrap up proceedings 34-28.

COVID draws were awarded to the Wyong Roos, South Newcastle Lions, Western Suburbs Rosellas and The Entrance Tigers.

With just two rounds remaining, plans are well in place for the upcoming play-offs and grand final (on Sunday 5 September).

Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League

NSWRL Denton Cup

Round 16 results:

Cessnock Goannas 40 (Billy Gilbert 2, Harvey Neville 2, Connor Kirkwood, Wyatt Shaw, Mitchell Smith tries; Adrian Davis 6 goals) defeated Macquarie Scorpions 16 (Ro Buaserau 2, Andrew Sumner tries; Kerrod Holland 2 goals)

Maitland Pickers 34 (Matt Soper-Lawler 2, William Nieuwenhuise, Perry Le Brocque, Chad O’Donnell, James Bradley tries; Brock Lamb 5 goals) defeated Central Newcastle Butcher Boys 0

Lakes United Seagulls 34 (Luke Huth 2, Callan Guest, James Johnson, Christopher Veaila, Nash Birch tries; Joel Edwards 5 goals) defeated Kurri Kurri Bulldogs 28 (Lachlan Hill 2, Brady Hammond, Barry McGrady, Tyler Randell tries; Ethan Niszczot 4 goals)

Wyong Roos v South Newcastle Lions – COVID draw

Western Suburbs Rosellas v The Entrance Tigers – COVID draw

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