The Maitland Pickers have one hand on the Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League (Real NRL) minor premiership after seeing off the Cessnock Goannas 43-16 at the weekend.
What made the win in the NSWRL Denton Cup even more impressive is that they produced the goods away from home, at the Cessnock Sportsground, on Saturday.
The 2020 President’s Cup champions led 16-0 in the blink of an eye, with five-eighth Chad O’Donnell posting a hat-trick (4th, 10th, 16th) in the opening 16 minutes.
Cessnock hit back through Billy Gilbert (24th) and Brendan Williams (28th), plus a goal to Tyrone Roberts-Davis, to reduce the margin to 16-10.
However, winger Perry Le Brocque steadied the ship for Maitland when he dived over, which was converted by Brock Lamb.
Then, right on the stroke of half-time, Lamb landed a field goal to keep the Pickers in front 23-10.
Maitland flexed its collective muscle in the second 40 to race to 39-10, via Le Brocque (49th, 61st) and Sam Anderson (56th), plus two Lamb conversions.
Brent Mendyk crossed for a consolation try in the 69th minute, which Roberts-Davis converted.
The Pickers responded, via Noah Nailagoliva (73rd), to wrap up the top of the table clash 43-16.
The Kurri Kurri Bulldogs proved too strong for The Entrance Tigers 22-14 at the Kurri Kurri Sportsground.
The two Real NRL combatants were locked at 8-all at one stage, with Ethan Niszczot (6th) and Henry Penn (16th) scoring for the hosts, and Iosua Afoa (9th) and Harry Hayes (28th) doing likewise for the visitors.
Reid Alchin broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute to put the Bulldogs ahead 12-8 at the interval.
Kurri Kurri extended that margin to 22-8, thanks to Jarred Anderson (66th) and Kade Hardy (75th).
Niszczot finally produced his kicking boots, landing one penalty.
In the dying moments, the Tigers’ Afoa snared his double for the afternoon, but it was too little, too late.
The Western Suburbs Rosellas maintained their red-hot winning streak with a shock one-point triumph, 13-12, over the Macquarie Scorpions at Lyall Peacock Oval on Sunday.
The young outfit went to the sheds with a handy 8-0 lead, courtesy of Heath Gibbs (31st) and two goals to Logan Radzievic.
Winger Joe Woodbury put Macquarie in the frame again, with a try in the 53rd minute, which was converted by Kerrod Holland, to trail 8-6.
Radzievic touched down soon after to extend Wests’ lead to 12-6.
However, the Scorpions would not go away.
Liam Higgins broke the opposition defence in the 72nd minute and, when Holland piloted the ball through the uprights, the encounter was tied at 12-all.
It was left to that man, Radzievic, to calmly steal the win in the remaining seconds – to register the Rosellas’ fifth consecutive victory.
The Wyong Roos also returned to the Central Coast with the competition points after overpowering the Lakes United Seagulls 18-14 at Cahill Oval.
But, they were made to fight all the way.
The Seagulls claimed the early honours and actually led 14-6 at one stage.
Christopher Veaila, Nash Birch and Darcy Heaney all scored tries, while Zane Camroux added a solitary conversion for the home team.
Lincoln Tubridy, with a Lachlan Hanneghan goal, was Wyong’s lone tryscorer in the opening half.
While the Seagulls tried valiantly, the Roos – through Scott Schreiber (61st) and Jack Burraston (68th), and two Hanneghan goals, stormed home to ruin the party.
The Central Newcastle Butcher Boys kept the South Newcastle Lions scoreless during their 16-0 win at St Johns Oval.
The home side went to the break ahead 10-0, with the Andersons, Cameron (21st) and Kain (36th), posting tries.
Uiti Baker added another one in the 61st minute, while Jack Kelly was on target with two goals.
Meanwhile, the Real NRL Newcastle Rebels will tackle Canberra in representative fixtures at the Maitland Sportsground on Saturday 26 June, with the under-20s kicking off at 1.30pm and the seniors from 3pm.
Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League
NSWRL Denton Cup
Round 12 results:
Maitland Pickers 43 (Chad O’Donnell 3, Perry Le Brocque 3, Sam Anderson, Noah Nailagoliva tries; Brock Lamb 6 goals, field goal) defeated Cessnock Goannas 16 (Billy Gilbert, Brendan Williams, Brent Mendyk tries; Tyrone Roberts-Davis 2 goals)
Kurri Kurri Bulldogs 22 (Ethan Niszczot, Henry Penn, Reid Alchin, Jarred Anderson, Kade Hardy tries; Niszczot goal) defeated The Entrance Tigers 14 (Iosua Afoa 2, Harry Hayes tries; Sione Tonga goal)
Western Suburbs Rosellas 13 (Heath Gibbs, Logan Radzievic tries; Radzievic 2 goals, field goal) defeated Macquarie Scorpions 12 (Joe Woodbury, Liam Higgins tries; Kerrod Holland 2 goals)
Wyong Roos 18 (Lincoln Tubridy, Scott Schreiber, Jack Burraston tries; Lachlan Hanneghan 3 goals) defeated Lakes United Seagulls 14 (Christopher Veaila, Nash Birch, Darcy Heaney tries; Zane Camroux goal)
Central Newcastle Butcher Boys 16 (Cameron Anderson, Kain Anderson, Uiti Baker tries; Jack Kelly 2 goals) defeated South Newcastle Lions 0