A typically brave Maitland Blacks performance came up short on Saturday as they ended their season with a 29-15 loss at the hands of Southern Beaches at Marcellin Park.
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In front of a robust crowd on hand for Back to Blacks Day, the home side started well and went 7-0 up early in the first half courtesy of a try to number eight Jono Wooton.
But, as has often been the case for the Blacks this season, their dominance with the ball wasn’t rewarded on the scoreboard.
A Rob Buaserau try that would have extended the lead was contentiously disallowed after the touch judge ruled the Fijian flyer had stepped over the dead-ball line before putting the ball down.
For Maitland coach Rob Tynan it was a decision that changed the momentum of the contest.
“It was a major game-changer,” he said.
“The boys had worked unbelievably in the first half, and realistically with that and a couple of other chances we had we really could have been up 21-0 at half-time.”
It seemed to sting the third-placed Beaches into action.
In the second half they responded by overpowering the Blacks with four tries, while Rob Vesper crossed for the home side as they battled to stay in the contest.
Regardless of the result, Tynan was pleased to see his side sign off for 2014 with another whole-hearted performance.
“At the end of the game we got beat but the effort was great, the boys played well and we really put the wind up them there,” he said.
“But they’re a good side and we probably gave away too much ball and they were able to run away with it.”
Against top-five sides this season the Blacks finished with one win and nine losses, but five of those losses came by a final margin of less than 10 points.
Maitland showed throughout the season that at times they had the ability to compete with the best, and Tynan said Saturday’s loss was indicative of their season.
“As the season unfolded we probably just weren’t ruthless enough,” he said.
“When we snuck our noses in front we just weren’t able to consolidate enough.”
In other round 18 matches Wanderers capped off their minor premiership with a 71-5 demolition of Nelson Bay, The Waratahs edged out Hamilton 30-27, Merewether defeated Lake Macquarie 26-7 and Uni recorded a 43-12 win over Easts.
Table after Round 18: Wanderers 82, Hamilton 71, Southern Beaches 67, The Waratahs 62, Merewether 5, Nelson Bay 44, Maitland 39, University 21, Easts 19, Lake Macquarie 9.