The Cessnock Cutters kept their semi-finals hopes alive with a gutsy 24-22 win over the Dora Creek Swampies at home on Saturday afternoon.
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With the ladies’ day celebrations rolling into the afternoon, the Cutters started the game in a brutal and physical fashion and it wasn’t long before Mick Deacon crossed for the first try.
The Cutters continued to dominate possession and skipped out to a 16-0 lead following tries to Captain Kirk and Webby Saunders.
The possession soon swung round to Dora Creek; being a side that plays off the back of offloads and second phase play the Swampies scored two tries cutting the half time lead to four.
In the break coach Geoff Pyne outlined the game plan and reinforced the importance of working together and completing the one per cent plays.
The second half continued to be a battle through the middle with both sides displaying enough with the ball but the defences equal to the task.
Webby Saunders crossed for his second taking the score to 20-12, but the game was far from over.
The young, up-tempo Dora Creek side continued their attacking style to take a 22-20 lead with 15 remaining before the rampaging Craig Anderson scored for the Cutters taking the lead back with 10 to go.
The final minutes of the match had both sides throwing everything they had to win the game, with the Cutters’ on-line defence holding strong to repel the Swampies’ attack and holding on to a crucial two-point win.
The Cutters put in a great team performance led by Webby Saunders, Christopher Costello and David Greenup, with the Minelinx players’ player award going to Shaun Bailey and Mick Deacon.
The club would like to thank treasurer Mel Clark for her efforts in organising the ladies day lunch at Peden’s Hotel, and for all the ladies who attended making it the success it was for raising funds for the Hunter Melanoma Foundation.
Saturday week is the Cutters’ final home game for the season against the competition leaders Newcastle University at 3pm.
See photos from the game and the ladies' lunch below.