It was an unsuccessful weekend for the Coalfields in the Newcastle Rugby League competition, with the Kurri Bulldogs and Cessnock Goannas both going down.
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The Bulldogs camp was looking for answers after what coach Phil Williams described as his team’s worst performance of the year.
Kurri matched South Newcastle on the scoreboard after a disastrous opening 15 minutes in which the Lions ran in three tries and raced to a 16-0 lead.
Williams said he was disappointed in Kurri’s dismal opening 15 minutes.
“I thought we had really turned the corner in our game against Cessnock, but this was probably our worst game of the year,” Williams said.
“Obviously as coach I take ultimate responsibility. It’s back to the drawing board again. I really don’t know what else to say.”
The Bulldogs scored first after the break with a Terence Seu Seu try, but in a play which typified their day a knock-on from a Lions kick landed in Jake Lawrence’s hands and he stretched out over his shoulders to score.
The final score was 28-12, but the continued problem of dropped ball and failure to complete sets denied the Bulldogs from making any inroads on South’s early lead.
The Goannas went down to Macquarie Scorpions 44-28 after leading by two points just after half-time.
Coach Dan Smailes said the team put in a disappointing, flat performance.
Smailes said it was the lack of commitment in defence as well as poor communication that let the team down.
Coming into the second half down 20-18, the Goannas went in four minutes after the break.
Smailes said their first four or five sets after half-time were strong, but the wheels fell off as the Scorpions piled on 24 points.
Despite a poor team performance, Smailes said the standouts were Brent Mendyk, Brendan Hlad and Robert Tuliatu.
The loss left the Goannas in fifth spot on the ladder, but Smailes said the premiership was “wide-open.”
“We’re as good a show as anyone else,” he said.
“We just need to get back to where we were.”
The Bulldogs take on Maitland Pickers away this Saturday, while the Goannas are at home to Central Newcastle.
