The Maitland Blacks have snapped a three-match losing streak with a 34-22 bonus point victory against the Nelson Bay Gropers at Marcellin Park on Saturday.
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The Blacks scored six tries to three in a game that remained in the balance for most of the afternoon and Maitland coach Bobby Tynan was relieved to walk away with points from round six of the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union competition.
“It has been a tough few weeks for us, so we’ll take the points,” Tynan said.
This result puts Maitland level with Nelson Bay on the ladder (15 points), narrowly outside the top five, with three wins apiece after the Blacks suffered losses to first four sides Hamilton (22-14), Wanderers (14-9) and Merewether (41-5) in consecutive rounds.
Tynan said he was mostly pleased with the performance, but was disappointed with the number of turnovers produced by his side.
“I thought we played all right,” he said.
“I can’t question the effort and we scored six tries, but the turnovers almost killed us.
“I’m just watching the replay now [yesterday] and we just kept giving the ball back to them ? I’m up to 12 and it’s only half time.”
The visitors nabbed an early 3-0 lead with a penalty to fullback Michael Bureta on the 10 minute mark.
Midway through the first stanza Blacks five-eighth Joe Lavis converted his own try from in front to put the hosts 7-3 ahead.
Gropers breakaway Brendan Haddad then scored the first of a double and saw Nelson Bay regain the lead, which was aided by Bureta’s conversion.
The Blacks then crossed the stripe twice within five minutes on the brink of half-time courtesy of flanker Steve Belcher and skipper Dan Runchel.
Lavis kicked the second conversion and the Blacks held a 19-10 advantage at the main break.
Shortly into the second half former Maitland winger Chris Logan then got one back on his old club with a five-pointer, which was converted by Bureta and put the Gropers within two.
Approaching the hour mark Maitland then scored another quick double, first to halfback Jono O’Toole and then to outside centre James Johnston, making the score 29-17 in favour of the Blacks.
Not long after Nelson Bay breathed life back into the contest with Haddad scoring his second and closing the margin to a converted try.
Newcastle representative loose forward Johnston then sealed the result for Maitland in the closing stages with his third try in the space of two weeks in the unfamiliar No.13 jersey.
Johnston received the coaches points while Belcher was also a stand out according to Tynan.
Maitland won all four grades on Saturday.
In other Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union first grade results from round six fixtures on Saturday former Maitland Pickers back and last year’s Newcastle Rugby League rookie of the year Liam Faughlin scored four tries in an 85-15 demolition of Easts, Wanderers remain the only unbeaten team after a 24-16 win against rivals Merewether Carlton, Southern Beaches accounted for Lake Macquarie 45-24 while title holders The Waratahs beat University 31-17.
MAITLAND 34 (James Johnston 2, Joe Lavis, Nic Davidson, Dan Runchel, Jono O’Toole tries; Lavis 2 conversions) defeated NELSON BAY 22 (Brendan Haddad 2, Chris Logan tries; Michael Bureta penalty; Bureta 2 conversions)
LADDER
Wanderers 28; Hamilton 25; The Waratahs 24; Merewether Carlton 20; Southern Beaches 16; Nelson Bay 15; Maitland 15; Easts 7; University 3; Lake Macquarie 0
