The Reserve Grade Newcastle Knights recorded a draw against the Wentworthville Magpies in a trial match at Maitland on Saturday afternoon.
It was back and forth between both sides to see the score levelled at 10-all at the half time break, and while the Knights hit the front, the Magpies scored in the final five minutes to end the match a draw.
In the opening five minutes, the Knights recorded their first point via halfback Brock Lamb, who crashed over under pressure. The Knights took the early lead, 4-0, after Lamb missed the conversion.
A speedy Lamb chased down an almost try for the Magpies, but the visitors regrouped to see Wentworthville’s Eddie Aiono take a leaping catch in goal to slam the ball down. Nathan Davis added the extras to see the Magpies take the lead, 6-4.
A brilliant run from Lamb got the Knights 50 metres down field but Matt Allwood then had to be carted off the field with a leg injury.
A pinpoint pass by fullback Nick Meaney found Tom Hughes out wide to dive over for the Knights second of the afternoon. Sio nailed the conversion on the far-left sideline to regain the lead, 10-6.
The Magpies’ Anthony Layoun tied it up with a try on their left edge to go into the halftime break, 10-all.
In the second half, the Magpies got on the board early thanks to Sam Gorman and once again took the lead 16-10 over the Knights.
Solid defence by the Magpies saw the Knights held up at the line on several occasions but finally Tyrone Amey broke through for Newcastle’s third. Ryan Stig added the extras to level up the scoreline, 16-all.
In the final ten minutes, Daniel Peck charged through a Magpies pack to plant the ball over the try line. Stig booted the conversion to guide the Knights into the lead, 22-16.
With five minutes to go, Nathan Milone planted a try down for the Magpies on the right side before a successful conversion from Mahoney again locked up the scores, 22-all.
Neither side were able to break the deadlock, as the Knights and Magpies recorded a 22-all draw.
SUMMARY
Knights 22 (T: Lamb, Meaney, Amey, Peck, G: Lamb 0/1, Sio 1/1, Stig 2/2)
Magpies 22 (T: Aiono, Layoun, Gorman, Milone, G: Davis 1/2, Mahoney 2/2)
TEAM
1. Nick Meaney, 2. Ken Sio, 3. Matt Allwood, 4. Cory Denniss, 5. Tom Hughes, 6. Jack Cogger, 7. Brock Lamb, 8. Josh King, 9. Christian Hazard, 10. Pasami Saulo, 11. Sam Stone, 12. Brodie Jones, 13. Luke Yates. Interchange. 14. Jack Johns, 15. Pat Mata’utia, 16. Tyrone Amey, 17. Faitotoa Faitotoa, 18. Thomas Cronan, 19. Bobby Treacy, 20. Harry Van Dartel, 26. Junior Roqica, 22. Daniel Peck, 23. Chris Randall, 24. Toa Mata’afa, 25. Jacob Gagai, 28. Tori Freeman-Quay, 29. Ryan Stig.
