All bar one team from the greater Maitland district remain in contention for semi-finals in Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League competitions with seven rounds remaining in the regular season.
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Nine of the 10 outfits are either inside the top five or within striking distance, while Raymond Terrace have yet to win a game in 2013.
In A-grade the East Maitland Griffins (15 competition points) snuck into top spot after a 26-all draw with fourth-placed Belmont Souths (11) after other results went their way.
Former front runners Wallsend Maryland (14) were upset 22-16 last round by Dora Creek (9), who the Griffins host at King Edward Park on Sunday.
West Wallsend (14), who shares second position with the defending premiers, faces Belmont Souths fresh from the bye in round 12, Wallsend Maryland tackle last-placed Dudley (5) while Windale (7) have the weekend off.
In B-grade fifth-placed Paterson River remains in the hunt despite going down to second-placed Shortland 28-20 last round.
Paterson River (10), who host strugglers Cardiff (3) on Saturday, sit alongside Fingal Bay (10) on the overall standings with Wangi Wangi (8) nipping at their heels, Shortland and Morisset (12) are slightly above, while Tea Gardens (16) lead the way.
Cellar dwellers Raymond Terrace (0) travel to take on Morisset this Saturday while Waratah Mayfield have the bye.
In C-grade the Hinton Hornets’ premiership credentials will be put to the test on Sunday when they host first-placed Gateshead.
The Hornets (8) accounted for second-placed Dungog (16) by 28-22 last round to move within a win of the top five but Gateshead (20), who have only dropped one game this season and will prove a tough opponent at Hinton Park.
On the other hand, both Warriors outfits, Dungog and seventh-placed Woodberry (6), will be out to bounce back from weekend losses when they tackle Stroud (12) and Kotara (4) respectively in round 12 fixtures.
Finally the fourth-placed Abermain Hawks (12) will look to make it three wins in a row when hosting Newcastle University (10) at Howe Park on Saturday after scoring 106 points in their last two games.
And in D-grade the second-placed Thornton Beresfield Bears, who have won six of their last seven encounters, host Gloucester at Lindsay Park on Saturday while West Maitland and Clarence Town go head-to-head in a battle for semi-final spots at Coronation Oval on Sunday after suffering last up losses.
n All kick-off times appear in the adjacent What’s On column
n See Sports Details on page 17 for competition ladders from each grade.
