MACQUARIE Scorpions will draw level with second-placed South Newcastle if they defeat Cessnock in their catch-up game of Newcastle rugby league this Saturday at Toronto.

The Scorpions moved to outright third on the ladder with a 32-16 win over the in-form Central Newcastle at Lyall Peacock Field on Saturday.

Macquarie is now on 20 competition points, two points clear of Maitland and Central.

A midweek blast from coach Barrie Moore saw the Scorpions produce what he described as the team’s most “complete performance” against Central.

The home team was never headed, and led 16-12 at the break.

Brute force was again the foundation stone for the Macquarie win.

But tries by Blake Gallen and Ryan Houston from kicks early in the second stanza showed there is variety to the Macquarie arsenal.

And with hooker Chris Hyde scheming from dummy-half and creating his own try with a grubber from close range, there is subtlety, too.

Leading try scorer and go-to man Royce Geoffrey was kept quiet by the Central defence but in a good sign for Macquarie, it did not dry up their points.

Mick Moran and Andy Sumner also crossed for tries for the home team.

Macquarie’s win ended a six-game winning streak for Central.

Moore said it was a good team performance, and he praised his forwards for laying the early platform.

He also acknowledged the work of winger Ryan Houston, who became the leading points scorer in the competition.

Houston has amassed 120 points with four games remaining before the semi-finals.

Moore said he was hoping for a “very big home crowd” for Saturday’s important match against Cessnock at Lyall Peacock Field