The Kurri Kurri Bulldogs have suffered their second straight defeat to open the 2015 Newcastle Rugby League season after being beaten 40-22 by Lakes United at home on Saturday.
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The Bulldogs trailed by just six late in the first half, but Lakes scored either side of the main break to open up what proved to be an unassailable 18-point lead.
“They were too big and too smart for us,” Bulldogs coach Phil Williams said.
“They wanted it more than we did and they played for each other but we played like individuals.”
Williams said lapses at crucial times and ball control were the biggest issues for the Bulldogs
“Our starts were dreadful – they scored after the kick off, just before half-time and just after half-time,” he said.
“And our ball control was terrible, it’s hard to win a game when you keep giving the ball over in good field position.”
The score was 22-10 in favour of the Seagulls at half-time.
Ryan Walker, Mitch Cullen, Theeran Pearson and Peter Cronin were the try scorers for Kurri Kurri.
Pearson kicked three goals.
For the opposition, Lakes second-rower Dylan Hartin scored a hat-trick of tries, Honeti Tuha nabbed a double and James Vuka and Tim Barlow also added their names to the sheet.
Brad Murray was successful with six conversions.
In other first grade results from the weekend three-time defending champions Western Suburbs held on for a 22-16 victory against South Newcastle yesterday while Macquarie beat Central Newcastle 44-16 on Saturday.
The Bulldogs return to action in a fortnight with an away game against Macquarie on Saturday, May 2.
LAKES 40 (Dylan Hartin 3, Honeti Tuha 2, James Vaku and Tim Barlow tries; Brad Murray 6 goals) defeated KURRI KURRI 22 (Ryan Walker, Mitch Cullen, Theeran Pearson and Peter Cronin tries; Pearson 3 goals)
LADDER
Lakes 4
Cessnock 3
Maitland 3
Macquarie 2
South Newcastle 2
Western Suburbs 2
Central Newcastle 0
Kurri Kurri 0
