The Macquarie Scorpions have made a successful start to their rugby league season, winning the Mudgee Nines tournament at the weekend.
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The tournament featured 10 teams from the Western region, the Central Coast, and Newcastle.
Macquarie came away with the bragging rights after completing the competition undefeated.
Macquarie downed Newcastle league rivals Kurri Kurri 14-4 in the final.
Prop Randall Briggs crashed over to score a try shortly before halftime to give Macquarie a 10-4 lead.
In the second half, Matt Simon scored the clincher, two minutes before fulltime.
The Scorpions qualified for the decider by overpowering The Entrance 26-nil in the semi-final.
Maquarie’s head coach Adam Bettridge said he was pleased to win the tournament and very happy with the way his players combined over the weekend.
Bettridge was particularly happy with several of the club’s new players, especially utility Dave Woods, who is back with Macquarie after a stint on the Central Coast.
“I thought Dave was very strong and he played a lot of minutes for us and he was also voted the tournament’s best player,” Bettridge said.
“Our fitness levels were way above other clubs participating and our defence was really solid with only four tries being scored against us in the seven games played, which was really pleasing.”
On Saturday, Macquarie’s ladies league tag team travelled to St John Oval for a gala day against their Newcastle Rugby League rivals.
The Scorpions won their first game four tries to nil against Cessnock, but lost to Maitland and Central Newcastle in the final two games.
Scorpions football secretary Steve Woodbridge said ladies league tag was a new concept for the Newcastle Rugby League.
“It will be a very strong competition and something we have been fully supportive of right from the beginning,” Woodbridge said.
“It gives the young women in our area a chance to participate in playing rugby league.”
This Saturday, March 4, the Newcastle Rugby League will host the Newcastle All Stars versus the Newcastle Indigenous All Stars, at Newcastle No 2 Sportsground.
A number of Scorpion players have been selected in both squads.
“Adam Bettridge was a major factor in getting the concept off the ground and will coach the Newcastle All Stars team, and Ashley Gordon will be in charge of the Indigenous All Stars,” Woodbridge said.
Kicks off is at 3pm.
