CAMDEN Haven's successful return to Group Three Rugby League continued when the Eagles downed Hallidays Point 46-26 in the match played at Black Head.

However, coach Col Dunn pointed out that his side faces their biggest challenge next week. So far the Eagles have beaten Old Bar, Taree City and now Hallidays Point. Next Sunday they tackle unbeaten Forster-Tuncurry at Tuncurry.

The game was the first played on Hallidays Point's new field. Unfortunately for the Makos, they failed to win a grade.

As was the case in the previous match against Wingham, the Makos had their chances. However, two intercept tries proved costly in the first half. On both occasions Hallidays Point were on the attack.

Early in the second half Hallidays Point fought back to trail 26-20 but the Eagles responded almost immediately. Towards the end of the second half the Makos looked a tired team and Camden Haven ran in some soft tries.

Unfortunately for the Makos their two major signings - Milton Thaiday and captain-coach Brett Grogan are both currently sidelined - Thaiday under suspension and Grogan with a leg injury.

Halfback Dean Rogerson led the Eagles around the park in a strong display while five-eighth Kieran Roberts darted over for three tries. Centre Brendan West-Comer looked sharp while fullback Kada Moylan was busy.

Five-eighth Clint Walker, other than throwing one intercept pass, was Hallidays Point's most effective player in attack. He scored one fine individual try and generally looked sharp in possession.

Camden Haven looked to be in for a good day when Roberts ducked over for a try just moments from the start. When West-Comer grabbed an intercept and sprinted 90 metres the Eagles had kicked away to an 8-0 advantage. However, Ramo Munro crashed over for the Makos to reduce the margin to 8-4.

The next passage of play pretty well summed up Hallidays Point's day when they knocked on from the re-start. Two tackles later prop Michael Moore charged over for Camden Haven and the conversion made it 14-4. Again the Makos responded, this time after winger Nathan Maher took an intercept. He was run down but quick hands from the play-the-ball saw Walker crash over and the conversion made it 14-10. But just on halftime Walker went from hero to villain when he threw a pass that was gleefully accepted by Rogerson and he was unopposed to dive over under the sticks. The conversion blew the score to 20-10 at the turnaround.