Brock Lamb produced a personal tally of 22 points and halves partner Chad O'Donnell scored a hat-trick of tries, but despite ladder leaders Maitland continuing their perfect President's Cup record in 2020 they now face a tough month ahead up against fellow title contenders.
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Coming off the bye the Pickers beat the winless Western Rams 58-4 at Maitland Sportsground on Saturday, making it four from four at the midway point of the statewide campaign before meeting the Thirroul Butchers, Wests Illawarra, North Sydney Bears and Glebe Burwood Wolves.
The Newcastle Rugby League club (10 points) are still the competition frontrunners, however, all of those sides (8) sit just one win behind them and remain in contention for the top-four finals series next month, which culminates in a decider at Parramatta's Bankwest Stadium on September 27.
"It's going to be a big month for us," Pickers captain Alex Langbridge said. "We're going to know where we are at the end of that."
Langbridge praised the round-five performances of both Lamb, who crossed for the opening try and kicked nine conversions from 10 attempts, and O'Donnell.
"They were outstanding," the Maitland hooker said. "Lamby is just a class above and you can tell he's an NRL player. Chady was really good as well, it was probably his best game this year."
The Pickers led 34-4 at half-time and didn't concede a point outside a 12th minute try to Rams second-rower Bailey Hartwig.
O'Donnell completed his triple midway through the second half, Maitland fullback Daniel Langbridge scored twice while Matt Soper-Lawler, James Bradley, Ben Ireland and Cal Burgess also collected four pointers.
"Without much of a pre-season it's taken a while to get going, but I think we're starting to take shape and get those combinations right," Langbridge said.
Elsewhere on Saturday and Thirroul beat sixth-placed Hills 18-12. Sunday saw visiting Glebe Burwood edge out Dubbo CYMS 24-18 and Wests Illawarra overcame Wentworthville 28-18. North Sydney had the bye.
Meanwhile, in the NSW Women's Premiership and top-ranked Central Coast Roosters were held to a 10-all draw with Wentworthville at Campbelltown Stadium.
LADDER: Maitland 10; North Sydney, Glebe Burwood, Wests Illawarra, Thirroul 8; Hills 6; Dubbo 2; Wentworthville, Western 0.
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