The Gunnedah Bulldogs leaguetaggers had a wayward start to their Group 4 season as they went down 14-0 to the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters on Kootingal soil last Sunday.

Having forfeited their opening match of the season, the Bulldogs started strongly last Sunday but couldn’t convert pressure into points before conceding two first-half tries and one after half-time in wet and bleak conditions.

The first two tries were similar to each other, with Kaitlyn Armitage grubber-kicking and touching down from close range before Kasey Fulwood did likewise.

Mikayla Skinner scored the final try in the early stages of the second half as she made a break in the attacking zone and scooted away from the defence before diving over the tryline.

Gunnedah’s defence was sound for the most part, but the team struggled to generate fluency and rhythm in attack.

The Bulldogs earned the ire of the referee, who penalised them for dissent a couple of times.

On one occasion they conceded three quick penalties, with the first one coming while they were in possession before an offside penalty was followed by one of the penalties for dissent.

Gunnedah also had a player sent to the sin bin in the dying stages.

Bulldogs coach Maddy Finlay said the game showed the team’s “improvement points to work on, and what our strengths were within our team”.

“I think Kootingal had the upper hand with already playing a few games together as a side, having the opportunity to gel,” she said.

“This was the Bulldogs’ first game this season and I think they all played well, and throughout the season will gel with each other more and prove to be an underdog side.

“I think we need to work on our game plan when we attack closely into our line.

“The girls’ defence was great, along with getting it down the field.”

Finlay noted the result was an improvement from Gunnedah’s 42-6 loss to the Roosters at Kootingal last year.

“As coach, I am very proud of how the girls pushed and preserved in the wet conditions,” she said.

Finlay said she was very confident the Bulldogs “will be able to come back and be the underdogs of the season”.

Gunnedah’s next leaguetag fixture will be at Dungowan on May 17.

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