Kurri Kurri coach Ron Griffiths has praised his team's effort and defensive resolve to outscore Western Suburbs in the second half in an 18-8 loss at Kurri Kurri Sportsground on Saturday.
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"Our effort was fantastic. Two weeks in a row we've had a really great effort," Griffiths said.
"Unfortunately, today our execution wasn't where it needed to be.
"Our first 25 minutes they took advantage of us not being able to come up with some effective set endings or complete our sets.
"They carried the ball for 25 minutes and we defended. It cost us at the back end of the game."
Wests led 12-0 at half-time, through three unconverted tries, and scored a penalty goal mid-way through the second half before finishing with a late try.
The Bulldogs got on the board through an unconverted try in the 50 minute to Lachy Hill and five minutes later Barry McGrady crossed for another four pointer.
"We got it back to 12-8 with the two tries," Griffiths said.
"They didn't get their last try until the final minute of the game, but I think that defence we did in the first half blunted our attack at the end.
"Extremely proud of our effort, our resolve defensively was huge."
Results in other games did not fall the Bulldogs way and they fell outside the top five to sixth on 12 points behind Cessnock and Central Newcastle who both climbed to fourth and five respectively on 13 points.
Cessnock beat Lakes and have a catch-up game against them again this weekend, before Central ran over the top of Maitland and face Lakes and Kurri in their last two games.
Kurri have a bye this week and host South Newcatle before travelling to take on the Butcher Boys in the final round.
"The big thing for us is for the back end of the year, is that if we win both games we make the semis," Griffiths said.
"There's two games to go we need to win them both to make the finals.
"It's a new comp from there and I believe our effort has turned the corner at the right time of the year.
"Once we get there it is a different game.
"We were close on Saturday and they should really take some belief out of that for the back end of the year.
"All you can ask as a coach is when they walk off the field that they've given all they've got and I couldn't fault that.
"Outside of that commitment the rest is coachable. At the end of day if you are willing to go out and put in that sort of effort then you will win more than you lose."
The Bulldogs are hopeful of the return of a number of players from injury and suspension over the next two weeks.
"We've got three out injured in Zeb Dunstan, Jono Maloney and Ben Wyborn. We've got Jarred Anderson suspended. He comes back next week and the other three are reasonably close," Griffiths said.
"The weekend off will help us as a group."
The Bulldogs host Souths on Saturday, August 17
LADDER
- Western Suburbs 24
- South Newcastle 16
- Maitland Pickers 14
- Cessnock 13
- Central Newcastle 13
- Kurri Kurri 12
- Macquarie Scorpions 8
- Lakes United 8