The Maitland Pickers blew a 20-point lead shortly before half-time to lose by 14 points to Lakes United.
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The Pickers led 26-6 at the 35th minute mark on Sunday when Jye Bieman-King converted Frazer Price's second try of the afternoon.
But in an extraordinary turn-around starting with a try by Lakes five-eight Jack Kelly right on the half-time buzzer, the Sea Gulls scored six unanswered tries to run out 40-26 point winners.
Kelly landed six of seven conversions, including five second-half goals as the Pickers ran into a brick wall and went scoreless after half-time.
Everything went the Pickers way after Lakes scored the initial try to lead 6-0 until Tylar Carter opened Maitland's scoring with a try in the 20th minutues.
Four minutes later Greg Morris scored, Price got his first in the 27th minute and Reeve Howard crossed for the Pickers' fourth.
Jye Bieman-King successfully converted three of his five shots on goal.
The Pickers would have been disappointed to concede a try just before the break, but all resistance was gone after the break as the Sea Gulls ran in five tries.
Blake Dean opened the scoring in the seventh minute and sealed Lakes' win with his second in the 72nd minute.
Barry McGrady hat-trick gets Bulldogs home
A Barry McGrady hat-trick sealed a narrow 22-20 win for the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs against Central Newcastle at Kurri Kurri Sportsground on Sunday.
MCgrady got the Bulldogs off to a flier scoring within the opening two minutes. Brent Mendyk kicked the conversion and four minutes later lined up for his second when Ngangarra Barker crossed.
The Bulldogs led 12-0, but Josh Allison replied soon after for the Butcher Boys scoring the first of his hat-trick in the 13th minute.
McGrady scored in the 19th and 27th minutes to take the Bulldogs out to 22-4 leaders, before Allison got his second just a minute after Central half-back Brad Murray was sin-binned for 10 minutes for a 22-8 half-time score.
The Butcher Boys ran in two converted tries in the second half with Kurt Donohue scoring in the 60th minute and Allison getting his third seven minutes later.
Despite not scoring in the second half the Bulldogs were able to hang on for an important win which takes them to third equal on points with Maitland. Cessnock are fifth on eight points after an 18-30 loss to South Newcastle at Cessnock on Saturday.