The Abermain Hawks were forced to dig deep to overcome Hinton Hornets in Saturday's double-header at Howe Park on Saturday.
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The Hawks prevailed 20-10 and drew inspiration from one of their biggest fans four-year-old Marlie Chapman to get home.
Marlie, the daughter of Hawks forward Bryce Chapman, sat on the sidelines on a day Abermain dedicated to her fight to overcome cancer and the Kids With Cancer Foundation which helped her and her family through the ordeal.
The club collected the two points and more than $3000 at the game and a function later at sponsor the Denman Hotel.
It was a big day for Coalfields footy, with the Kearsley Crushers defeating Maitland United 48-26 in the first match of the double-header.
The win lifts the Crushers to fifth on the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League B-grade competition ladder jumping Dudley who were beaten 44-24 by Carrington.
After an initial struggle after being promoted to B-grade from C-grade, the Crushers have won three of their past four games.
It was also an important win for the Hawks, who moved up to third on the C-grade ladder after Woodberry defeated Gloucester 20-18 in the battle for second spot.
Abermain (19) are one point behind Woodberry (20) on the ladder and a point clear of Gloucester (18), with Waratah Mayfield on top with 21 points.
Abermain have the most favourable run home starting with the win-less Maitland Pickers on Saturday at Howe Park followed by the trip to Gloucester in round 16.
They then host sixth-placed Paterson River and finish the regular season away to second-bottom team Morpeth.
The Crushers beat Maitland United courtesy of a 24-point rush in the final 20 minutes.
United were up 26-20 and camped on the Crushers’ line, but were unable to deliver a killer punch.
Kearlsey made them pay with a devastating final quarter of the match and keep United without a win for the season.
The Crushers ran in nine tries with five-eighth Dean Wearing getting a hat-trick and hooker Justin Wearing crossing for a double.
Kearsley now sit just one-point behind University of Newcastle and Belmont South in third and fourth respectively.
However, their run home is difficult facing the top three teams in the next three rounds.
They are away to top-side Kotara on Saturday, have a home game against second-placed Dungog and are away to University before finishing the season with a home-game against Dudley.
