The defeat pushed the Blacks back to fourth spot, with Easts leapfrogging them after their 30-13 defeat of fifth-placed University.

Disappointingly for Maitland, they failed to cross the Hawks try line and their only points came from the boot of fullback Christian Punch, who secured two penalty goals.

“It would have been nice to get a try, but they’ve got one of the best forward packs in the competition and they really restricted us,” Blacks skipper Adam Perkins said.

The cracks in the Blacks armour were showing last week after a lucky five-point win over ninth-placed Lake Macquarie but Blacks coach Steve Scobie wasn’t making excuses.

“Our boys were mentally prepared we just didn’t play well enough on the day and were outplayed by a far stronger side,” he said.

“Full credit to the Hawks, they were the better side on the day and we just weren’t good enough.”

The Blacks let in four tries but despite this, the team’s outside backs defended the line superbly and came up with several try-saving tackles.

“The backs defended really well and it would have been better if our forwards could have laid a better platform so they could have attacked as well,” Perkins said.

The Blacks forwards were dominated by the Hawks experienced pack, but flankers Steven Belcher and Rob Auer played their best games for the season.

“Belcher had an absolute blinder, he really stood up against their tough forwards,” Perkins said.

The game was a sample of the standard the Blacks will have to play if they want to hold the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union trophy aloft on grand final day.

But first the Blacks have to make it to the business end of the season and this challenge doesn’t get any easier next week, when they face equal leaders Merewether Carlton at Townson Oval.

“It’s another tough game next week, but it’s not unachievable and were not going to take a backwards step,” Perkins said.

In other round 19 fixtures this weekend Merewether defeated Singleton 48-12, Wanderers belted Southern Beaches 72-12 and Lake Macquarie accounted for Nelson Bay 33-26.