Merimbula-Pambula’s first grade rugby league side had a tough day at the office against Eden on Sunday.
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Meanwhile, the league-tag Hot Doggies got over the Eden Tigerettes for their second win of the season.
The Bulldogs were short of numbers and had to call on support from sister club Candelo-Bemboka.
Despite a few ring-ins to fill out the ranks, the Bulldogs had a fit young roster, but Eden met them man-for-man.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring early when Vic Halfpenny regathered a fifth tackle kick in the Eden endzone to score.
However, the Tigers struck back quickly with a try of their own to Liam Wilkinson.
Wilkinson made a dramatic airborne catch of the ball off a John Aldridge kick to land in the Bulldogs try-line next to the posts.
Alrdidge added the extras and the scores were deadlocked early at 6-6.
Unfortunately for the visting Bulldogs, the line defence looked a little soft as Eden’s Jack Nicholson made it look easy, just left of the posts soon after.
To compound matters, the Tigers brought play right back to the Bulldogs’ defensive half.
John Aldridge found space and then kicked his own conversion to lead 18-6.
Eden pace winger Joel Grewar darted through the line on the right wing and Eden was well on its way to a dominant score.
Jai Tinson was the next over the line and Eden was clear in front 26-6 before the break.
In the second half, Tigers veteran Ian Smith was a really strong runner down the left.
Smithy scored a double, while captain-coach Michael Wykes joined the scoring.
Patrick Gaudie was able to crash through for the Bulldogs, but the damage had been done on the scoreboard as Eden ran away with the game 50-12.
However, the ealier league-tag match saw the Hot Doggies conquer their Eden counterparts 20-16.
The Merimbula-Pambula combine was focused as play fluctuated through the middle.
Matching Eden for pace and flair the Hot Doggies traded tags through the ruck, while the back row wasn’t quite able to break through.
However, the regular sprinters were soon finding narrow gaps to take advantage of and score the points.
Karli Toms made a run in open space to score and also kicked two conversions on the day.
Lauren Kidd, Skye Holmes and Abbi-Lee Scott all put their names on the scoreboard to keep the Merimbula-Pambula outfit ahead of Eden.
It was a solid win for the visiting team, which will be looking for good form ahead of the league-tag Eights tournament (see page 52).