Scorpions Show True Grit To Pip Seagulls

Newcastle Herald

Monday July 24, 2006

By BRETT KEEBLE

TWO tries in the final 15 minutes gave Macquarie Scorpions a stirring 22-20 victory over Lakes United at Peacock Field yesterday and the inside running for the Newcastle Rugby League minor premiership.

In a dress rehearsal for next month's finals, big-game nerves and brutal defence contributed to a sometimes sloppy but always fiercely physical contest, after which the Scorpions (27 points) leap-frogged the Seagulls (26) into top spot with two preliminary rounds remaining.

Macquarie had trailed all game until halfback Chris Swan regathered his own chip kick to score in the 74th minute, a carbon copy of the try he scored five minutes before half-time, then centre Chris Nolan converted from in front.

Centre Julian Bailey scored a converted try in the 67th minute to cut the deficit to four points after Lakes looked like they had the game in the bag leading 20-10.

In a bizarre aftermath, Macquarie captain-coach Dan Quinn said his side had to improve significantly to be a factor in the finals and Lakes counterpart Ian Bourke claimed a psychological victory.

"It was one of those days when things just didn't go right but no one dropped their bundle. We hung in right to the end and I'm very proud of them for that," Quinn said.

"There's great spirit in the side and everyone knew we had it in us. Fitness-wise, we know we can keep going to the last whistle.

"Having a bloke like Chris Swan is fairly handy. He's a real game-breaker, but we've got to play a hell of a lot better than that.

"I think both sides were a bit nervous we both played that way. Defensively, both sides were great but we had to be, considering the amount of pill that was turned over."

Referee Ken Weatherall was physically ill during the half-time break, reserve-grade referee Greg Ryan was put on stand-by and both teams were informed Ryan would take over at some point in the second half.

But Weatherall completed his commitments, finishing with a 16-10 penalty count to Macquarie after Lakes enjoyed a 4-1 penalty advantage in the opening minutes.

"I'll probably get myself in trouble but the bloke in the middle, and the two sideline blokes, I just can't believe that the referees appointed him for such a big game," Bourke said.

"He's not going to be in the grand final. He's probably not even going to ref a semi-final in first grade. In saying that, we did get beat . . .

"Some of the calls were going our way, all of a sudden the majority of the calls were going their way. I just can't fathom some of his decisions out there.

"Apparently I get a message at half-time that he's crook and they're getting a reserve ref in. I wish they had have got him.

"That's no disrespect to him. It's a big occasion for him and he's probably never been in such a big occasion, but they probably shouldn't have given him the game."

Even without key men Dane Campbell and Daniel Frame, Lakes scored four tries to three but Nolan's five-from-five goal-kicking proved the difference.

"They can sing their song now but we were the better side, I know that," Bourke said.

"They've taken the two points and so be it, but I think we've got the psychological advantage . . . you don't win grand finals two weeks out from the semis."

Sixth-placed Cessnock (20) scored a 16-6 upset of Western Suburbs (22) at Harker yesterday to stay within a point of fifth-placed Raymond Terrace (21), who beat Kurri Kurri 44-12 at the Terrace.

Nelson Bay Blues beat Maitland 42-16 at Tomaree in yesterday's other game. The game between South and Central was postponed.