FROM 2017 premiers to 2018 wooden spooners.
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That’s the dire prospect facing the Macquarie Scorpions with three rounds of the Newcastle Rugby League premiership to play.
The Scorpions lost 40-6 to Maitland on Saturday to remain achored to the bottom of the competition ladder on 7 points.
It was the 10th consecutive match in which Macquarie has been unable to record a win.
Macquarie was right in the contest up to halftime when they trailed the home team by just 12-6.
But Maitland was unstoppable in the second stanza, and ran in five tries and 28 unanswered points.
Macquarie football secretary Stephen Woodbridge said the Pickers were very impressive on their home patch, and the result ended any slim hopes Macquarie had of sneaking into the semi-finals.
“The side is now at short odds to get the wooden spoon after being last year’s premiers,” Woodbridge admitted.
Macquarie coach Adam Bettridge said the team’s results in 2018 had been a huge disappointment, especially given the fantastic season his team put together last year.
In 2017, Macquarie won the Mudgee 9s, the inaugural NSW Challenge Cup, and the Newcastle Rugby League premiership, defeating Western Suburbs in the grand final.
“We have tried very hard during the year and have been in a position to win most, if not all, of our games. But when under pressure we have been the ones to crack,” Bettridge said.
“Injuries have not helped our cause with 32 players playing in first grade during the year, and there has not been one occasion throughout the year where we have been able to go out with the same side from one week to the next.
“But we cannot use that as an excuse. We just have not been able to defend our mistakes and errors, and we have been guilty of giving away silly penalties late in the tackle count which again shifts the pressure back onto us.”
Bettridge said the remaining matches this year were important to Macquarie’s 2019 campaign.
“With only three games remaining we must regroup and concentrate on winning those games and at least finishing the season with some positives so that we have something to work with for 2019,” he said.
There has been better news for Macquarie’s lower grades.
The under-19s and reserve grade are guaranteed of playing semi-finals, and the open grade remains in the hunt.
Macquarie does not have a game this weekend. The Scorpions will be back in action against Kurri Bulldogs at Lyall Peacock Field, Toronto, on Saturday, August 11.
Ladder: Maitland 16, Lakes 16, Central 15, Souths 14, Wests 14, Cessnock 10, Kurri 10, Macquarie 7.
