The Maitland Pickers’ dramatic start to the 2015 Newcastle Rugby League season continued on the weekend following a 32-all draw with Coalfields rivals and last year’s grand finalists the Cessnock Goannas.
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The Pickers had the chance to comfortably win the match, but conceded 20 points in the last 20 minutes after leading 32-12 midway through the second half in front of a home crowd at Maitland Sportsground.
“Before the game you might have taken a draw against Cessnock, but we threw it away,” Pickers coach Noel Dent said.
“It was very, very disappointing.”
This followed the Pickers’ 22-20 season opening away win over Central Newcastle last week, which was sealed with a sideline conversion in the dying stages.
This time around there would be no such heroics and Cessnock had the chance to deliver Maitland the same dose with two minutes remaining, but the goal was unsuccessful.
The Pickers then made a break from the restart, but failed to capitalise on the opportunity, and after bombing a try the ensuing field goal attempt went wide from 40 metres out.
Dent said this was one time when the Pickers didn’t play smart football.
“Some of the things we did were dumb, dumb, dumb,” Dent said.
“We kicked the ball out on the full twice, we lost the ball on the first two tackles four times because of one arm carries and we played lateral instead of playing down the middle.”
The Pickers led 24-12 at the main break and then added another eight in the second half before the Goannas piled on 20 unanswered points.
Pickers captain Steve Waetford scored a hat-trick of tries for the hosts while Tyme Dow-Nikau and Jarrod Smith also crossed the line.
Kade Hardy kicked six conversions.
Dent said prop Pat Robards was best for the Pickers while premiership winning skipper PJ Ellis returned to the field in reserves and came through unscathed despite a recent back injury.
The Newcastle Rugby League competition breaks now for Anzac Day and returns the following weekend with Maitland away to South Newcastle at Townson Oval on Sunday, May 3.
MAITLAND 32 (Steve Waetford 3, Tyme Dow-Nikau and Jarrod Smith tries; Kade Hardy 6 goals) drew CESSNOCK 32 (Joe Woodbury 2, Shaun Metcalf, Dan Metcalf, Coen King and Geordie Connelly tries; Willie Heta 4 goals)
