The Dockers welcomed the recently bolstered Wallsend-West Newcastle at Tulkaba Park, and provided loyal fans with a rousing display as they trotted to a 15.16.106 to 1.3.9 victory off the back of five for veteran forward Emma-Jayne Howe.

It was a storming victory to crown the Dockers’ first campaign points, as they leaped to a 28-6 lead at the turn of the first quarter. From there, Lake Macquarie took control, scoring 32 points in the second quarter.

The eventual 97-point scoreline came from the five majors from Howe, but she was joined in Lake Macquarie’s biggest haul of the season by Brianna Trappett and Emily Brandon, both of whom left round twelve with a hat-trick to their names.

Alyce McCloskey was the lone goalscorer for the Swans in their defeat, with Rosslyn O’Connor, Rebecca Garside and Lauren Gruber joining her as the on-field best for Wallsend-West Newcastle.

Elsewhere on Saturday afternoon, Terrigal Avoca kept Muswellbrook scoreless to secure an 11.18.84 to 0.0.0 victory at Hylton Moore Oval, with the Pantherettes moving into eleventh place with the win.

Morgan Ross was the best kicker for the home side, as she slotted four majors, while Yanna McKellar added three to the haul for Terrigal Avoca.

Also in round twelve, Singleton put on a defensive masterclass against the Newcastle City Novas, though it wasn’t enough to secure the four competitive points at No.1 Sportsground. The Roosterettes kept the Novas to just two goals and six behinds to record a 2.6.18 score, but Singleton couldn’t find goals themselves, kicking six behinds to finish 0.6.6.

Gosford also recorded a victory, moving into sixth place as they emerged 28-point victors over Maitland at Adcock Park.

Ange Jones was key for the Tigers, bagging seven of the team’s twelve majors, while Sarah Burns earned herself a hat-trick despite the Saints’ eventual defeat.

Warners Bay had a positive afternoon at Feighan Park, keeping league leaders Nelson Bay to just a 27-point victory – one of their closest winning margins of the season. The Bulldogs struggled to find shots on target in the opening three quarters of the match, and were restricted to just three majors, two of which were scored by Rosanne Holmes.

Molly Simpson and Kaitlyn Douglass both kicked two for the undefeated Marlins.

The Newcastle City Stars also remained undefeated over the weekend, downing Cardiff 14.8.92 to 2.2.14 at No.1 Sportsground. It was a strong day for the Stars’ key kicker, Sarah Halvorsen, who slotted eight of the fourteen majors for the second placed side.

The Hawks were best served by Arizona Cross, Faith Lewis, Sheree Vukovich and Taylah Wilks, with Cross and Lewis the scorers for Cardiff.

Finally, Wyong Lakes defeated Port Stephens with a 24.21.165 to 0.0.0 performance at Don Small Oval. Alexandra Pearce kicked seven for the Magpies, while Sarah Ball added six and Emily Bohan added five in the 24-goal barrage.

TABLE: Nelson Bay, Newcastle Stars (44), Newcastle Novas, Killarney Vale (36), Wyong Lakes (32), Gosford (28), Maitland, Singleton, Warners Bay (24), Cardiff, Terrigal Avoca (16), Muswellbrook (12), Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, The Entrance Bateau Bay, Wallsend-West Newcastle (4).