Chad O'Donnell scores hat-trick as Maitland Pickers smash Western Rams 58-4

Maitland ran in 10 tries with five-eighth Chad O'Donnell helping himself to a hat-trick in a performance only shadowed by his halves partner Brock Lamb who scored the opening try and then had a hand in several others.

From the opening set the Picker showed they were switched on. Maitland juniors Jayden Butterield, Cal Burgess and Cooper Jenkins in his first game in the front row continually bent the Rams line and gave Maitland's halves a strong attacking platform.

"Coming off the bye we challenged ourselves to start well and not ease into the game. We didn't want any complacency given the Western Rams' (winless) record to date, we wanted to show them respect and I think we did that," Pickers coach Matt Lantry said.

The Maitland Sportsground is becoming a fortress with a shut-out against Dubbo and just one try against the Rams, which came in the 12^th minute off a deftly timed kick which set up back-rower Bailey Hartwig to pounce on.

There were plenty of special moments by the Pickers in attack including two superb cut-out passes by O'Donnell to send teammates across the line. However, the win was essentially about getting the fundamentals right and asserting unrelenting pressure.

"A shut-out and then just one try in our two home games shows we are prepared to work hard for each other in defence and really respect out try line," Lantry said.

"We're getting the fruits of our labour in that regard by turning sides away and then scoring up the other end.

"We completed today at 87 per cent (31 of 34 sets). Footy's not rocket science, if you hold onto the ball, get through your sets, come out in front on the penalty count and defend well you are going to be in most games."

Maitland had attacking options across the field with the tries scored left, right and centre.

"When you can play both sides of the field it gives you real balance and strike power," Lantry said.

"I think the young guys up front did a great job in laying the platform for us. Butts (Jayden Butterfield) and Cal (Burgess) and Cooper (Jenkins), I thought those three middles really laid the foundations for what we could play off early in the game and set it up for the rest of the 80 minutes."

Darting runs by dummy-half and skipper Alex Langbridge forced the Rams further on to the back foot and the halves combination of Lamb and O'Donnell cashed in.

"Brock played his best game today and I thought Chad did as well," Lantry said.

"It was always going to take some time to really get our combinations to where we wanted to and I think the boys will build off that performance again."

Daniel Langbridge back at fullback scored a double and set up another with well-timed support runs.

"The spine is starting to really gel and it needs to as we are starting to come into the toughest part of the season for us. Out of the five games we've played three teams that are sitting out of the top half," Lantry said.

"The challenges now are really ahead of us, we've got our goal of securing a home final but we have to assure we don't get ahead of ourselves."

The Pickers are on the road to the Illawarra next Saturday when they take on Thirroul who will be coming off an 18-12 win against Hills which lifted them into the top four.

The road trip is followed by home games against West Illawarra and then North Sydney before an away game against Glebe to finish the regular season off.

"That's a really tough month of footy and anything can happen. But it's nice to pick up the wins you should get," Lantry said.

Round five of the President's Cup is completed today with Dubbo CYMS at home to Glebe Burwood Wolves and Wentworthville Magpies hosting West Illawarra.

Maitland 58: Tries: Chad O'Donnell 3, Daniel Langbridge 2, Brock Lamb, Matt Soper-Lawler, James Bradley, Ben Ireland and Cal Burgess. Goals: Brock Lamb 9/10.

In the Newcastle Rugby League lower grades, Maitland maintained their unbeaten record with a 6-0 win against Western Suburbs Rosellas in Ladies Blues Tag. Maitland's under-19s had a strong 16-4 win against Wests and in tier one the Pickers showed continue improvement playing up a grade to go down 30-10 to the Rosellas.

The tier two game was postponed.

The Kurri Kurri Bulldogs failed to get the points against South Newcastle in all three grades. In Blues Tag the Bulldogs were beaten 36-6, the under-19s pushed Souths to go down 18-12 and in reserve grade Souths prevailed 14-4.

Cessnock first and reserve grade are away to Lakes United today.

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