Scorpions Prove Point

Newcastle Herald

Monday April 7, 2008

NEIL GOFFET RUGBY LEAGUE

MACQUARIE were outclassed 46-20 by a slick Central Charlestown side at Peacock Field yesterday but should come away with two competition points in Newcastle Rugby League.

The Scorpions had their two points for last week's win over South Newcastle suspended after failing to field an open-grade side, but they fulfilled that commitment yesterday.

In fact, Macquarie won open grade 26-12 against the Butcher Boys, and if they can field a team again on Sunday against Nelson Bay at Tomaree Oval, the suspension will be lifted.

NRL officials told Macquarie they had until April 11 to show they were capable of fielding three grade teams plus under 19s and their points would be suspended until that was the case.

Macquarie officials went in search of players and were grateful of the support they received from second-tier Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League clubs in the area.

"It is going to be a struggle to field an open-grade side; there's no doubt about that," Macquarie secretary Steve Woodbridge said.

"But we've had a very positive response from people in the area, and we are grateful to local clubs Wangi and Morisset who have helped us out with players.

"They will help us, only if required, and we're also planning to speak to Dora Creek."

Woodbridge said the club have 350 points left under the Player Points System and are holding talks with players in an attempt to bolster their ranks.

Macquarie will lodge an appeal with the Country Rugby League today to try to escape the $500 fine the NRL hit them with for not fielding an open-grade team against South.

Central will also appeal to the CRL today after they were stripped of their points and fined $1000 by the NRL for fielding 21 unregistered players in the first round against Cessnock.

"We will be lodging an appeal with the Country Rugby League tomorrow," Central football manager Kim Lenox said yesterday.

"Part of our appeal is why we think we shouldn't have been fined because we're saying we think all the players were registered."

On the field, Central dominated early to lead 10-0 and were ahead 20-8 at half-time after left centre Mat Cooper and winger Archie Ikihele caused problems for the Scorpions' defence.

Macquarie lost hooker Daniel Bates to a suspected broken left ankle early in the match, but they still managed to fight back to 20-14 down when winger Luke Gibson scored just after the break.

Central then took control of the game and showed signs they will be a genuine premiership threat this season after scoring some classy tries in the last 30 minutes.

Central scored three tries down the right side through centre Milton Thaiday and winger Mitch West.

South scored their first win of the season when they defeated Wyong 30-16 at Townson Oval yesterday, and Western Suburbs beat Raymond Terrace 54-8 at Harker Oval.

On Saturday, Cessnock defeated Nelson Bay 44-20 at Cessnock Sportsground, and Kurri Kurri beat Lakes United 38-30 at Kurri Sportsground.