It was one of those typical derbies - arm wrestle, plenty of tension and no love lost between the rivals.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wanderers coach Dan Beckett was just glad the Two Blues ended up on the right end of it against Merewether Carlton at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday.
Making the moment even sweeter, the Two Blues celebrated a 31-20 victory in the top-three battle by claiming Newcastle Hunter Rugby Union's Hawthorne Cup and then watching club junior Harry Johnson-Holmes make his Test debut for the Wallabies in South Africa later that same night.
"We spoke about that connection [with Harry] before the game and the last time the Wallabies won at Ellis Park was 1963, when Phil Hawthorne from Wanderers was playing [for Australia]," Beckett said.
"We wanted to make sure we were drinking out of the Hawthorne Cup that night, which is what makes it so special."
Beckett said he was impressed with the way Wanderers got the job done when narrowly ahead 21-20 with 10 minutes left.
"We didn't try and close the game out, we kept trying to play," he said.
Four yellow cards, two from each side, were issued during the 80 minutes.
Opposing forwards Dan Kevill (Wanderers) and Charlie Brown (Merewether) were given 10 in the sin bin for throwing punches near the hour mark, leaving the Two Blues with 13 players.
Wanderers have injury concerns with Luke Simmons and Chase Hicks (hip flexors). The Greens' Matt Ireland (shoulder) left the field early in the first half.
Wanderers now jump Merewether on the ladder, three points clear in second.
Elsewhere in round 13 on Saturday and Nelson Bay's finals aspirations were dented, slipping 15 points outside the top five after doubles to Maitland debutant Sam Parkinson and halfback Max Stafford saw the Gropers defeated 53-29 by the Blacks at Bill Strong Oval.
In a high-scoring affair Lake Macquarie, sitting fifth on the overall standings and two shy of Maitland, beat last-placed Southern Beaches 48-36 at Walters Park.
Hamilton outside centre Laufiso Vaisagote crossed for five tries as the Hawks secured the outright competition lead with a 76-14 win against Singleton at Passmore Oval.
University had the bye.
LADDER: Hamilton 49; Wanderers 47; Merewether 44; Maitland 43; Lake Macquarie 41; Nelson Bay 26; Singleton 14; University 7; Southern Beaches 2.
