The Bulldogs simply surrendered too much possession to the Seagulls and it finally told after leading 12-6 at half-time.

Bulldogs coach Dean Peterkin said his team was struggled with ball security, dropping too much ball and compounding it by giving away too many penalties.

“We completed 11 of our 16 sets in the first half and to be 12-6 up at half-time was an incredible defensive effort by the boys,” Peterkin said.

“Our possession rate was probably worse in the second half and although the boys put in for each other in defence we gave Lakes too much ball.

“We had plenty of opportunities but just didn’t play to the conditions. The main thing was the ball security and giving away too many penalties.

“The standouts were our two backrowers Stuart Stoker and Mark Ostermann who really took us forward and punched through the line.

“Matty Macbeth coming off the bench as well in the front row put a couple of dents in them but we just didn’t capitalise.

“The amount of defensive sets we had, to actually keep the score line at 18-12 was just a massive effort by the boys.

“There were a couple of stages there where we defended three set on our line and didn’t let any tries in.

“The majority of their tries came from about 20 metres out down the sideline. I’m very proud of the boys in how they dug deep for each other in the middle.” 

Zac Pryor and Daniel Craig scored tries for Kurri and Jackson Cluff successfully converted both.