WESTERN Suburbs spoiled the party for Kurri Kurri prop Mick Campton on Saturday and made it consecutive wins to open the Newcastle Rugby League season.
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But coach Matt Lantry insists the Rosellas will need to improve on the 36-6 win over the Bulldogs at Kurri on Saturday to compete with the competition heavyweights.
Wests led 6-0 at half-time and 12-6 midway through the second half before breaking the game open.
Lantry, who is in his first season at Harker Oval, was highly critical of the error rate in the opening 40 minutes.
“We made nine errors in the first half and completed at 55 per cent,” Lantry said. “We addressed that and came out and played some good footy in the second half.”
The Rosellas host Lakes on Sunday at Harker Oval.
“We are well off the pace with where we need to be with the footy,” Lantry said.
“I’m comfortable with where we are at defensively. But if we turn up with that attitude with the footy and complete at that rate, Lakes will make us pay.”
A Wests victory was not how Campton had hoped to mark his 300th game.
At Peacock Field, Macquarie coach Adam Bettridge admitted the Scorpions got out of jail after fullback Mitch Manson scored a converted try late to snatch a 28-26 win over a plucky Maitland.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Bettridge said. “They were the better side and it was good to get out of jail.
“After Mitch scored, they had three sets on out line and we managed to hold them out, which was the positive from it.
“Anyone who takes Maitland lightly will get their pants pulled down. They are a good side. It was a gutsy win and a win we needed leading into the state cup.”
At Cessnock Sportsground, Souths five-eighth Ryan Glanville scored a hat-trick to help steer the Lions to a 28-8 triumph over the Goannas.