The first grade Bega outfit wore special tribute jumpers for the Anzac clash and were able to reward home ground fans with a gritty 20-14 win over the visiting Bulldogs. 

Under lights and in greasy conditions on the Bega recreation ground, handling errors marred some passages of play in an otherwise hard-fought and even encounter. 

Kicking proved almost impossible as the ball slipped off kickers’ boots at awkward angles and faded behind the posts from even reasonable angles of attack. 

Pre-match Hayden Parbery had been praised as Bega’s best for the last three-weeks and he kept his reputation running, scoring the opener for Bega. 

The kick waned, but the Bulldogs struck back soon after through winger Luke Rixon with the visitors’ kick also fading to level 4-4 early on. 

About 30 minutes into the half Bulldogs hooker Jarrod Cole ran one of his trademark scoots out of dummy half to score near the posts and lead 8-4. 

Bega lock Scott Fuller soon levelled it up again 8-8 with play heading to the break, but James Duncan helped Bega break the deadlock with a try late in the half setting the home club ahead 14-8 as the Roosters posted their first conversion of the night. 

The Bulldogs were hampered when hard-working forward Reuben Smahel took a nasty head-knock and was relegated to the sideline for the entire second half. 

Coming off the bench, Dylan Fletcher added some good impact for the Bulldogs, but with early-season injuries taking a toll the cupboards were basically bare on the bench for both clubs. 

Both the Roosters and Bulldogs had picked up some key reserves to fill slots, but were eager to save the legs of their back-ups. 

A second try to Parbery early in the second half saw the tri-colours hit their final score of the night with Jamie Bower-Scott slotting the conversion to lead 20-8.

The two teams became heated during some exchanges, but as play settled a John Aldridge bomb set his winger loose as Rixon added his second for the night. 

The conversion from Corey Schafer meant the Bulldogs were still in strike distance of a draw, trailing just 20-14. 

In the final handful of minutes handling errors hurt both teams as the Roosters coughed up possession a couple of times, but the Bulldogs also fumbled their late chances to lock in the draw. 

Both clubs had stood up well in defence, while it was mostly the attacking runs that provided errors as fans were treated to a remarkably close contest right until the final whistle. 

Both the Roosters and Bulldogs commended their opponents efforts, while the Bulldogs said they were still hunting a first win for the season.