It was not a good weekend for the Scorpions who lost to to the Bulldogs in all four grades at Kurri Kurri Sportsground.

The straight-sets loss came as a shock to the club, particularly after Macquarie had won all four grades against Maitland the previous week.

Macquarie football secretary Steve Woodbridge said the first and reserve grade losses were especially hard to take given that they came late in the contests, and by narrow margins.

In first grade, Macquarie led 12-10 at the halftime break.

The second half was an arm wrestle, with no further points until the 65^th minute when Macqurie winger Ryan Pywell scored a try out wide which centre Fa'Avae-Eli narrowly failed to convert.

Woodbridge said the Scorpions led 16-10 but could not put the game to bed as Kurri surged on the back of repeat sets of possession.

When Kurri’s Corey Holman crossed to score next to the uprights, Kade Hardy’s conversion levelled the scores at 16-all.

With less than three minutes left to play, the home team received a penalty which Holman slotted through the uprights.

Scorpions coach Adam Bettridge said he could not fault his team’s commitment and defensive effort.

He noted both teams scored three tries, with all of  Kurri’s being scored through kicks.

“It was a very tough encounter which we expected, but with the slow play-the-ball through holding in the ruck it certainly did not allow any free-flowing attacking play,” Bettridge said.

“There were very few clear breaks in the game with the defence certainly on top.”

Bettridge said the result had added consequences for Macquarie.

“The loss to Kurri also knocked us off the top of the ladder so it was very disappointing, especially coming off a club record of eight games without defeat.”

He said the team’s focus must quickly shift to the Round 12 match with Central Newcastle at St John Oval this Sunday. 

“We need to regroup from this loss and learn from it and go to Central on Sunday and come away with a win which will keep us in the top three of the competition.”