Blacks co-coach Mick Hickling said the scoreline could have been even better if Maitland had been able to take advantage of its attacking opportunities.

“There’s stuff to work on but an away win against a team a lot of people tipped will finish ahead of us is a nice way to start the season,” he said.

Hickling said skipper Michael Howell led from the front in his return from two years playing in France and New Zealand.

“He’s a powerful player and very skillful, but his talk and direction across the ground really makes such as huge difference,” he said.

Blacks hooker Rhys Watson was the players’ player with excellent scrimmaging, line-out ball supply and general play.

“Our set plays in the scrums and line outs were really positive and Ryhs’ scrimmaging was excellent,” Hickling said.

Fullback Josh McCormack was also in everything amassing 21 of the Blacks’ 26 points, with a try, two goals and four penalties.

“Josh was kicking beautifully, as well as providing us with some attacking flair and good defence,” Hickling said.

“He was kicking them from everywhere, out wide, long distances. He really had a top game.”

Robert Wlliamson scored the Blacks’ other try.

Hickling said there were plenty of positives especially in set plays, line-outs, scrums and line defence.

“We created a lot of attacking opportunities, but were really not able to convert them as well as we would have liked,” he said.

“But we knew from the start that it would take time for our combinations to come together.

“It left the door open for them to come back at us, but we were really strong in defence and held on well.”

The Blacks were 15-12 winners in second grade.  Third grade claimed a bonus-point win with an eight-try 50-5 victory.