THE Macquarie Scorpions are renowned for their stinging defence in the Newcastle Rugby League.

On Saturday it was Central Newcastle’s turn as their six-game winning streak came to halt with a 32-18 loss to Macquarie at Peacock Field.

The Butcher Boys were belted throughout the contest by the physical Scorpions pack, who were never threatened after leading from the opening minutes.

“It was a real tough, physical game and I can guarantee you if any Central blokes were out of bed before 10am today they’re pretty darn good, because we belted them,” Macquarie coach Barrie Moore said yesterday.

“I know some of my blokes back at the presentation like [Blake] Gallen, [Danny] Vaughan and [Adam] Swadling were sore.

“Gal was that sore he could barely lift his arms up. That’s what it’s going to be like from now to the semis, and we’re training hard for it.”

Moore has his eyes firmly set on second spot and an all-important home semi-final, especially after the Goannas kept their season alive by beating South Newcastle 26-6 at Cessnock Sportsground.

Macquarie will go level with the second-placed Souths if they defeat Cessnock on Saturday at Toronto in their catch-up match.

That would set up a blockbuster the following Sunday against the Lions at Townson Oval.

“We’ll just take each game as it comes,” Moore said.

“Second would be nice, but we need to cement our third spot so we get two cracks at it.”

After a 30-20 loss to Lakes United last week, Macquarie responded to a rocket from Moore at last Tuesday’s training by producing what their coach described as their most “complete performance” of the season.

They completed 27 of their 32 sets and made the Butcher Boys pay for several mistakes.

Macquarie hooker Chris Hyde chased down his own grubber to score a questionable try in the opening minutes when it appeared Central fullback Tom Morton had grounded the ball.

Soon after Randall Briggs set up his brother, Isaac, with a short ball.

Central hooker Jace Delaney combined with lock Noel Underwood for Central’s opening try, before Scorpions halfback Mick Moran carved up some soft defence to extend the home side’s lead to 16-6.

Underwood was again involved in a try before the break when he off-loaded to Ryan Walker to cut Macquarie’s lead to 16-12 at half-time.

That was the closest Central came to victory.

In the second half the Butcher Boys failed to clean up a bomb and a grubber, which resulted in two Macquarie tries, and from there Central’s winning streak was over.

“We had a little bit of an off day with our man at the back and our two wingers, not that they’re solely to blame,” Central coach Matt Lantry said.

“What was more concerning was the penalties and the possession we were giving up to let them in a position to put an attacking kick in.”

story by Josh Leeson