The power of sport was there for all to see

Season 2020, in pretty much any sport you want to talk about around here, was always the 'asterisk season'.

The season you have when you don't quite have a season; when you don't quite have a crowd; when you don't quite have your full team. Some teams were even playing in new, makeshift competitions. All pretty weird.

But just like those last minute, against-the-odds victories, sport has the power to amaze.

And it was never more obvious than this weekend, across different codes and with different emotions.

The Maitland Blues Tag women's team went down bravely in a tough grand final against favourites Souths. But the thing was, even for the early game with a 9.30am kick-off, there was a crowd there at Maitland Sportsground making a racket to support their team.

It stayed that way right through the grades until Cessnock broke their premiership drought in the top grade with a win over Souths. There was a strong contingent of Cessnock fans there too - they've never been quiet in their lives - and boy, they were true to form.

An 'asterisk season'? Try telling them.

And then there was the Maitland Magpies' thrilling penalty shootout win over Charlestown Azzurri as they look to walk an elimination tightrope to defend their title.

The winning penalty taker? Goalkeeper Matt Trott, no less. If he missed, it was the last kick he'd ever take, as he retires at the end of the season.

But he never looked like missing, the excitement was palpable, and the Magpies' season continues.

Asterisk season? Yeah, right.

Last week I wrote about how we have a plover mum-to-be sitting on eggs, rather inconveniently in our driveway.

After a heavy storm in the early hours of Monday I got up to see the bird was not on the nest site and assumed she'd abandoned the eggs in the downpour.

I decided to grab a coffee and wander across to check out the eggs. But by the time I'd finished my coffee and looked up, there she was, back sitting on the eggs with the male nearby.

I must admit, they're a bit of a nuisance, but I couldn't help but be pleased about it. That's one protective mum.

I'm on Team Plover's side.

Rick Allen, Editor