Paterson River have started their Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League A-grade campaign on a winning note by disposing of Shortland by 20 points on Saturday.
Promoted to the top grade last week following an unbeaten run from the opening five rounds in B-grade, Paterson overcame their Newcastle visitors 34-14 at Paterson Showground.
Those from the Paterson camp described the win from last year’s C-grade grand finalists as “excellent”.
Paterson fullback Matthew Roberts scored a second half double while Mick Akers, Chris Walters, Grant Jackson and Dylan Jenkins all crossed for the hosts.
Jackson kicked five conversions from his six attempts.
Josh Papworth was named players’ player following an impressive ball-running display, while Nathan Cronin, Jye Moore, Bronson Scott and Darrin Smith all received mentions from the coaching staff.
Paterson now share the A-grade competition lead with three other teams on 10 points.
It was a similar story for B-grade newcomers Woodberry, who easily accounted for Dungog 50-20 in the battle of the Warriors at Bennett Park on Sunday.
Woodberry were also promoted up one division last week after dominating the C-grade competition in the early parts of 2012.
Woodberry are outright leaders on the points score table.
It was a mixed bag in other B-grade results with Raymond Terrace demolishing Stroud 42-18 at Lakeside Sporting Complex on Saturday, while East Maitland were downed 36-20 by Stockton at Lynn Oval on Sunday.
And in D-grade over the weekend, Hinton, Morpeth, West Maitland and Abermain were all round six winners while Thornton-Beresfield and Clarence Town were defeated.
Abermain (10 competition points), Hinton (8), Clarence Town (6), recently demoted West Maitland (5) and Morpeth (4) round out the top five on the D-grade ladder.