COACH Scott Coleman admitted Hamilton got out of jail after Steve Sione crossed for a late try to snatch the Hawks a 14-all draw with Maitland at Passmore Oval on Saturday.
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It was not the start the Hawks, who chasing a third straight Newcastle and Rugby Union premiership, had anticipated.
In a stop-start affair, punctuated by a high number of penalities and four sin bins, the Blacks led 9-0 at half-time.
The visitors extended the gap to 14-0 when Travis Brooke crashed over.
However, the Hawks found a way back. Liam Walker crossed for a converted try. Then, with three minutes remaining, Sione took a quick tap and crashed over from 10 metres.
“We definitely got out jail,” Coleman said. “They were good and we were bad. First half they were there mentally and we weren’t. Their back-row was enormous.”
Nelson Bay recorded the first upset of the season with a 31-18 triumph over Southern Beaches at Strong Oval. Winger Jack Arthur contributed 16 points as the Gropers took hold of the Hawthorne Cup for the first time in recent memory.
Winger Kieren Danovaro kicked a penalty with 10 minutes remaining to secure Merewether an 18-16 win over The Waratahs at Waratah Oval. The Greens trailed 11-0 early.
Lake Macquarie made it back-to-back wins with a hard-fought 25-22 result over University at Uni No.1.
The Students led 19-18 at the break and 22-18 early in the second half.
Dillow Rowney crossed for a treble and Tim Marsh and Josh McCormack scored two tries each as Wanderers thrashed Singleton at No.2 Oval.