RUGBY LEAGUE
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Maitland district teams will feature across all four grades on the opening day of Newcastle Hunter Rugby League semi-finals at Raymond Terrace this weekend.
Five local clubs will contest elimination and qualifying matches between A and D grades at Lakeside Sporting Complex.
Paterson and Hinton will have their seasons on the line while East Maitland, Dungog and Thornton Beresfield will attempt to win through to next week and meet the resting minor premiers from their respective competitions.
In A-grade the East Maitland Griffins will want to replicate last week’s 30-10 win in their replay with Belmont Souths.
Success would pit them against Wallsend Maryland in next weekend’s major semi-final while a loss would have the Griffins facing the victor of Saturday’s elimination clash between West Wallsend and Windale.
In B-grade Paterson River must push past Tea Gardens in order to keep their season alive with triumph in the elimination semi-final ensuring a place in week two of the play-offs.
Fingal Bay and Shortland will do battle in the qualifying semi-final while minor premiers Morisset have the week off.
In C-grade the Dungog Warriors and Hinton Hornets fly the Maitland district flag with encounters against the Stroud Raiders and Newcastle University respectively.
A win for Dungog would have them one win away from a grand final appearance while a loss for Hinton would end their premierships ambitions for 2013.
Gateshead were minor premiers.
In D-grade the Thornton Beresfield Bears have Gloucester in their sights while Karuah and Williamtown won’t want to be knocked out.
Carrington won the minor premiership.
Action starts at 10am on Saturday.
q See tomorrow’s Maitland Mercury for top grade rugby league coverage ahead of Saturday’s season-defining clash between the Maitland Pickers and Kurri Kurri Bulldogs.