DORA Creek Swampies suffered their second loss this season to crosstown rivals Morisset in their Hunter Newcastle Rugby League B grade clash at Morisset Showground on Saturday.
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Morisset won 24-4 after going to the break up 12-nil.
It’s the second derby win this year for the Bulls who pipped Dora Creek 16-12 in the pre-season Charity Shield at the showground.
Dora Creek coach Troy Hobbs said there was no mystery surrounding his team’s loss on Saturday.
“We played poorly, [Morisset] were too good, and we have no excuses,” Hobbs said.
Buoyed by a vocal home crowd, Morisset made an ideal start, catching the kick-off and running the ball almost back to the halfway line on the first play.
Both teams then settled into a battle for physical supremacy, but errors and penalties made for a stop-start opening stanza.
Morisset broke the deadlock when a seemingly innocuous kick unlocked the Dora Creek defence.
A bomb that seemed too deep to generate a contest suddenly got the Morisset chasers interested when a Swampies’ defender lost his footing while turning.
The ball bounced favourable for the home team, and a try resulted in the corner.
Hobbs said his team clearly lacked cohesion, but better results would come.
“At this stage, it’s only two games into the season so we’re not panicking. But we’ve got to complete more of our sets,” he said.
“My biggest problem is getting them to combine as a team.”
Hobbs said the Swampies had picked up some handy new signings, but that would count for little unless the team worked together.
Former Central Wyong forward Tom Woods was a stand-out for the Swampies on Saturday.
“Tom’s been our Players’ Player in both of our games so far,” Hobbs said.
Former Central Wyong halfback Hayden Sykes also impressed the coach on Saturday.
“Hayden was second for us in hit-ups – playing at halfback,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs said his forwards had been embarrassed by their performance on Saturday, and they have vowed to bounce back this Saturday against Waratah Mayfield at Neville Thompson Oval at 3pm.
Morisset will travel to play Fingal Bay in Round 3. Morisset and Dora Creek each has one win after two rounds.