Gunnedah Bulldogs were at home again in round two of the Group 4 Rugby League campaign on Saturday and for the second consecutive week they went down in the main game.
They welcomed Boggabri Kangaroos to Kitchener Park and the visitors turned a 16-10 half-time lead into a 44-26 victory.
DJ Smith put the Bulldogs ahead early with a try in the sixth minute that he converted himself to make the score 6-0, but the Boggabri men hit back with three tries in 11 minutes to lead 16-6.
An Oscar King four-pointer in the 27th minute saw Gunnedah go into the half-time break trailing 16-10, but the Kangaroos blew them away early in the second stanza with two quick tries to go ahead 26-10.
Boggabri then outscored the hosts four tries to three during the final half an hour of play to run away with an 18-point victory.
The loss was Gunnedah’s second of the season after they were outscored 38-10 by Werris Creek in round one.
Gunnedah play Moree away from home at Boughton Oval this Sunday and they will need to improve greatly to match the Boars, Bulldogs coach Sean Hayne told Group 4 Media after their local derby game.
“It was the same as last week,” he said of his side’s first round loss to Werris Creek.
“Just made a lot of mistakes.
“They (Boggabri) wanted to win more than we did and deserved to win.
“We’ve got to regroup for next week.”
Prop Lincoln Smith and five-eighth DJ Smith might have been best for the Bulldogs.
“I thought Lincoln Smith was very good for them,” Boggabri coach Shane Rampling added.
“He and DJ Smith caused us a few problems.”
Kitchener Park also hosted reserve grade and ladies league tag games on Saturday. The hosts won both of those matches as they outscored the Roos 48-10 in league tag and 22-16 in reserve grade.
Other round two winners in first grade across the weekend were the Werris Creek Magpies, Moree Boars and Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters.
The Magpies travelled to Collins Park on Saturday afternoon where they defeated Narrabri Blues 38-18, the Boars returned to Jack Woolaston Oval for a grand final rematch against North Tamworth and outscored the Bears 42-16, and Kootingal-Moonbi welcomed the returning Wee Waa Panthers to Kootingal Sportsground and scored a 66-6 victory, while the Dungowan Cowboys had the round two bye.
Gunnedah will be in action in ladies league tag, reserve grade and first grade in Moree this Sunday.
Disappointment: Boggabri Kangaroos players celebrate a try in the first grade game at Kitchener Park on Saturday despite the best efforts of the Gunnedah Bulldogs. Photo: Sue Haire
