The Maitland Pickers were too big and too fast for a game Dubbo CYMS running out 28-0 winners at Maitland Sportsground on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was well short of Maitland's best, but the Pickers put their President's Cup opponents on notice with an intimidating performance of hard-hitting, never-say-die defence.
Maitland winger Willis Alatani opened the scoring in the 23rd minute crossing wide on the end of an excellent Daniel Langbridge pass.
Led by halves Brock Lamb and Chad O'Donnell off the back of a huge platform by the forwards, Maitland was on top until Dubbo halfback Bayden Searle put his mark on the game earning his side six sets in a row late in the first half.
Maitland dug deep and held Dubbo out and with a minute left in the half several strong runs and penalty had Pickers deep in their opponent's half.
After their huge defensive efforts the Pickers put points on the board through a clever darting run by hooker Alex Langbridge and instead of potentially a 6-4 defecit, the Pickers led 10-0.
Maitland picked up the intensity in the second half, but disappointingly were guilty of eight errors and were unable to capitalise on their hard work to force turn overs.
The hits were hard and the runs full of determination and aggression as the forward pack benefited from excellent 80-minute performances by Maitland back-rowers Cooper Jenkins and Henry Penn.
Faitotoa Faitotoa charged through the Dubbo defensive line to bag his a try in the 46th minute. Brock Lamb set up Chad O'Donnell in the 61st minute and a Lamb had a huge hand in former Cessnock Goannas back-rower Marvin Filipo's try.
The halfback mesmerised the Dubbo defence with a darting run and then a series of passes sent Filipo through a big gap to score.
Lamb's kicking was on song and he landed four of five conversions.
Maitland face fellow unbeaten side Hills Bulls in Sydney next week. The Bulls handed pre-tournament favourites Wentworthville their second straight loss with a 16-10 win after Maitland beat them 32-24 in round one.
In other games Glebe Wolves defeated North Sydney 16-12 and Western Suburbs (Illawarra) beat Western Rams 12-0.