The look of absolute delight on Maitland Saints junior Reagan Merrick's face could not have contrasted more starkly with a shell-shocked and muddied Maitland Pickers centre Jayden Hocking.
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Reagan was celebrating a game in the mud, Hocking was left wondering what had just happened after losing 52-0 in a mud wrestle with Western Suburbs at Harker Oval.
Fairfax Media photographer Marina Neil captured Sunday’s demolition of the Pickers and the muddied warriors couldn’t help but draw comparison with rugby league’s most famous photo of rival skippers Norm Provan and Arthur Summons embracing after the epic 1963 grand final at the SCG.
Most games were called off, but the Cessnock Goannas also had to slog it out in the even more dreadful mud at South Newcastle’s Townson Oval.
The only Goannas team with smiles were the under-19s who remained unbeaten with a 34-14 win.
The best news from Sunday’s Newcatle Rugby League games was that no one was buried in the mud.
DROWNING ALERT
Maitland United and Swansea Swans not only had to contend with mud but a lake of water across Parbury Park in Sunday’s Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League D-grade and Ladies League Tag fixtures on Sunday.
The water was splashing knee high at times and players were eager to get up from tackles as quickly as possible for fear of drowning.
The Swans defeated United 26-0 in D-grade, while the Maitland ladies had a 26-16 win with Robyn Draper, Lisa Moy and Emma Bennett each scoring doubles.
Needless to say goal kicking was a tough ask and Rebecca Chesworth struggled with conversions but somehow defying the odds to kick one goal.
No.1 closed
Maitland Saints missed their chance to get some practice in at Newcastle No.1 Sportsground ahead of the finals with all three of their games against Newcastle City transferred to Max McMahon Oval on Saturday.
The cricket wicket was a muddy mess on Thursday and the Saints women’s game under lights on Friday was transferred as well as Saturday’s seniors and reserve grade games.
Rep victory
Maitland Blacks duo Jono O’Toole and Travis Brooke’s NSW Country Cockatoos campaign continues to go from strength to strength.
The Cockatoos beat the Brumbies Provincial XV 50-34 to make it two wins from two games after smashing NSW Suburban 40-7 at the start of the month.
NSW Country’s final game of the representative season is against Queensland Country in Newcastle on July 1.
