The Bega Roosters have been handed their first top grade loss of the season over the weekend.
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Bega faced off with the Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs and the Candelo Bemboka Panthers at Colombo Park on Sunday, winning the opening three grades before the Bulldogs stormed home to a 36-22 finish.
The top-of-the-table clash now has the Bulldogs sitting level with the Roosters - but the Bulldogs have one game to catch up after an early season bye.
Good hussle from the big men on both ends saw play see-sawing through the middle, but it was Bega breaking through early when Tom McMillan was tackled on the line, but had enough momentum to twist and plunge the ball across to the right of the posts.
On the Bulldogs reply set, the home side were looking ominous to the right edge, but fullback Luke Rixon collapsed in a tackle and appeared to be knocked out, which led to him coming off soon after.
Play shifted left before a chip kick saw Jake Mikula nabbing the high ball in Bega's in-goal to score the leveller.
Many pundits would have banked on the Bulldogs dropping a bit of pressure without their fullback, but the home side were able to punish any lapses in Bega's defence with forward Ryan Becker powering across soon after.
On the repeat set the Bulldogs were awarded a penalty - and then Bega were marched a further 10 metres back following a bit of push and shove - with Corey Schafer kicking the two to lead 12-6.
The Bulldogs began piling on the pressure on the left edge where Billy Doneman came to the fore with a first half double for the Bulldogs to lead 22-6.
Scott Galeano bust through a gap early in the second half to reel it back to 22-12 with Todd Ingram slotting the conversion.
Galeano later wrapped up a double, while forward Justin Towney carved through, but with the Bulldogs replying through Brock Seabrook and Doneman capping a hat-trick, the Bulldogs clinched the result.
The first grade loss was the sole tarnish on the record for the Roosters on the day, winning reserves 68-0, the 18s 42-6 and the league-tag 48-0.
Despite losing Luke McKerlie to a send off, the Roosters were indomitable in their reserve grade win, practically scoring off every set.
Darnell Andy was a standout with some blinding runs, while prop Brendan Bartlett had a blinder with a number of line-breaks and clever offloads setting up tries.
Despite the strong loss in the league-tag, a Pink Panthers spokeswoman said the game was played in good spirits.
She said the home side missed some tags and Bega's quicks had got away from them, but the Panthers showed good endeavour.
Lily Warby was a standout with a hat-trick of tries.