LOGAN Radzievic slotted a late field goal as Wests edged out Macquarie 13-12 at Lyall Peacock Field on Sunday and maintained their position on the edge of the top five with a fifth straight win.
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The Rosellas centre struck the left-foot drop kick from 25 metres out in the 78th minute, breaking the deadlock and helping the visitors earn another two competition points.
Having lost their opening six games and sitting at the bottom of the Newcastle Rugby League ladder, Wests now find themselves within striking distance of finals for 2021.
The Rosellas are equal fifth alongside Wyong (10), who came back to defeat Lakes 18-14 at Cahill Oval on Sunday, and close the gap on fourth-placed Macquarie (14).
Radzievic scored a try, conversion, penalty goal and the all-important one pointer.
"Big Rads came through with the goods," Wests coach Todd Lowrie said.
"It was the ugliest looking field goal you'll ever see, but it got there in the end."
Wests were leading 8-0 at half-time but Scorpions winger Joe Woodbury reduced the margin to four.
In the 66th minute Rosellas second-rower Liam Wiscombe set up Radzievic's try after desperately keeping the ball in play.
"That ended up being the difference in the end," Lowrie said.
Macquarie hooker Liam Higgins helped level proceedings in the 72nd minute.
Wyong captain-coach Mitch Williams said the Roos were "tough and gritty" as they rallied from 16-6 down midway through the second half to beat Lakes by two at Belmont.
Jack Burraston deputised at fullback for Wyong after Lincoln Tubridy (ribs) left the field after just 10 minutes.
Joint leaders Central kept Souths scoreless in a 16-0 victory at St John Oval on Sunday with the Anderson brothers, Cameron and Kain, both crossing for tries.
Maitland five-eighth Chad O'Donnell scored a hat-trick inside the opening 20 minutes and winger Perry Le Brocque followed suit with three tries of his own as the frontrunners accounted for the third-placed Goannas 43-16 at Cessnock Sportsground on Saturday.
The Pickers, who were up 23-10 at half-time, have now gone past 40 points in their last three appearances and extended their winning streak to eight games. Maitland's only loss this year was to Cessnock (24-22) at home on April 10.
Faitotoa Faitotoa played lock for Maitland in round 12 having rejoined the club last week from Queensland Cup side Tweed Seagulls.
The Bulldogs produced a crucial 22-14 win over The Entrance at Kurri on Saturday, drawing them level with the visitors on eight competition points.
Four clubs have this weekend off but Kurri-Maitland, Lakes-Wests play catch-up matches on Sunday.
The Newcastle Rebels have named a largely unchanged team to tackle Canberra in a representative fixture at Maitland on Saturday.
LADDER: Maitland, Central 20; Cessnock 16; Macquarie 14; Wests, Wyong 10; The Entrance, Kurri Kurri 8; Lakes 6; Souths 4.
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