Picton Magpies edge Camden Rams in Victoria Park thriller

Picton have maintained their position at the top of the Group 6 Rugby League ladder following a thrilling 20-14 win over Camden.

The other matches saw the Lions come from behind to defeat Campbelltown City 36-34 at Mittagong Sportsground, while The Oaks Tigers defeated Narellan Jets 46-10 at Dudley Chesham Oval.

After 13 rounds Picton are first on 22 points, followed by The Oaks on 20, with Thirlmere third on 18 points.

Camden (17 points) and Mittagong (16) make up the top five. Campbelltown City and Narellan (12) are four points away, while Moss Vale are running last with 9 points.

The match of the round at Victoria Park between the Picton Magpies and Camden Rams was mostly an arm wrestle before turning into a thriller at the end, reports MIKE SHEAN, of Macarthur Sports Radio.

Camden opened the scoring on just three minutes, following an early penalty goal to halfback Chris Browne adjacent to the posts.

However, this lead was to be short-lived because four minutes later Magpies prop Kenny Ahovelo crashed over from close range, giving the home side the lead at 6-2.

Young Picton five-eighth Daniel Payne, who has been impressive in recent weeks since his move to the top grade, scored in the right-hand corner on 21 minutes to extend the Magpies lead to 10-2.

Camden stayed in the hunt when Kyle Bell returned serve to reduce the deficit to just two points at 10-8, with 14 minutes before the half time break.

That was the score at the break when respective coaches Michael Lett for the Magpies, and Camden’s Nick Crouch had a chance to give their players some advice.

In the second half Picton came out of the blocks firing, extending the lead to six points after Payne scored his second try for a 14-8 scoreline.

From then on most of the second half was a grinding affair and neither side could find a way to break through the defensive line,

There was just nine minutes left on the clock when Camden’s Matt Kay scored.

When Chris Browne kicked the conversion from the sideline to level the scores at 14-14 it set the match up for the thriller everyone was hoping for.

The deadlock was broken five minutes before full time when Picton’s Tim Dengate sliced through the Camden defence to give the home side victory and the two premiership points.

RESULTS – ROUND 13 – FIRST GRADE

The Oaks Tigers 46 Narellan Jets 10;

Mittagong Lions 36 Campbelltown City 34;

Picton Magpies 20 Camden Rams 14.

RESERVE GRADE

Appin 20 Oran Park 24;

The Oaks 20 Narellan 16;

Mittagong 36 Campbelltown City 18;

Picton 46 Camden 16;

Oakdale 6 Thirlmere 44.

LADDER: Mittagong 23; Picton 22; Oran Park 20; Appin 17; The Oaks 14; Narellan, Campbelltown City, Camden 10; Thirlmere 4; Oakdale 0.

UNDER 18

Mittagong 16 Campbelltown City 48;

Picton 28 Camden 12;

Mt Annan Oakdale 32 Thirlmere 26;

Moss Vale 34 Warragamba 28.

LEAGUE TAG

Picton 0 Camden 24;

Mittagong 0 Campbelltown City Blue 54;

The Oaks 18 Campbelltown City Gold 14;

Oakdale 0 Thirlmere 56;

Moss Vale 0 Oran Park 46.

LADDER: City Blue 23; Narellan 22; Oran Park, Thirlmere 19; The Oaks 18; Camden 17; City Gold 14; Picton 12; Mittagong 6; Moss Vale 5; Oakdale 1.

SECOND DIVISION

Bundanoon Highlanders 22 Bowral Blues 16;

Picton Magpies 27 Oran Park Chargers 26.

NEXT WEEK – ROUND 14 – FIRST GRADE

Campbelltown City v Picton (Saturday 5.30pm – Campbelltown Sports Stadium/Orana Park);

Camden v Moss Vale;

Thirlmere v The Oaks (Sunday 2.30pm)