UPDATE: The Maitland Pickers drew with the Cessnock Goannas in the latest installment of Coalfields clashes.
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The Pickers had led 24-12 at half-time but had to settle for shared points.
It was an emotional day for the Pickers who conducted a moving tribute for former player Harry Hofman before the reserves game.
Players from both sides, joined Harry's family and friends as the crowd stood in silences as the song Horses was played before the release of balloons.
Hofman was a much-loved members of the Pickers reserves team, and died aged 18 suddenly after his spleen ruptured as a result of an undiagnosed illness.
The Kurri Kurri Bulldogs were disappointing at home losing 40-22 against a strong Lakes United who showed they are serious contenders in this year's RealNRL competition.
The Bulldogs looked enterprising at times in attack but were let down by errors in their own and Lakes' 20.
Lakes repeatedly exposed the Bulldogs' goal-line defence, particularly on the left-side of the defensive line.
In other results Macquarie Scorpions 44 defeated Central Newcastle 16.
The Maitland Saints first division team defeated Singleton by 88 points in a powerful display.
The division two team went down by three goals.
Maitland Saints Woman played three games in the Gala Day today.
From a slow start they improved every game and came home with a hard-fought win against Lake Macquarie
PREVIOUS: It's a big weekend of sport with the first home games of the season for the Pickers, Bulldgos, Bears and Magpies.
The Pickers are facing Coalfields rival Cessnock and will have a special tribute to former player Harry Hofman before the reserves game at 1.30pm.
A minute’s silence will be one of a number of planned tributes to Hofman, who died suddenly from a ruptured spleen.
It will be a sea of blue, red and white at Kurri Kurri as fans are encouraged to wear their old and new jerseys. There will also be a special presentation for 200-gamer Mick Campton.
The Blacks are away against Wanderers and will look to muscle up and remove costly errors from the game.
Whether it's league, union, football, Aussie rules, basketball, hockey, netball, motor sports, if your team is from the Maitland or Kurri districts we want to hear about it.
Follow sporting updates online at the Mercury or use the hash tag #mmsport on Twitter.
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The Bulldogs v Seagulls is Saturday's BarTV livestream match. The link to watch is below along with the link to Sunday's livestream of the Bears v Jaffas and delayed broadcasts of the Pickers and Blacks.
