The North Coast Bulldogs under 18s and under 16s sides are off to a flying start in the 2020 rugby league representative season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Both teams secured dominant wins against the Central Coast Roosters at Tuncurry's Harry Elliot Oval to kick off the Andrew Johns (under 16s) and Laurie Daley (under 18s) Cups.
The under 18s secured a 36-16 win in the second match of the day.
While there will be some areas of their game to work on in the coming weeks, coach Darrin Dark was pleased with his side's first hit-out of the year.
"Across the board it was a good performance," Dark said.
"A couple of things went against us which we probably could have scored off."
Nicholas Smith finished off brilliant plays from the side to bag a hat trick.
He opened the score in the eighth minute before dummy half Ethan Duncombe found space to crash over.
Jarrad Gibson scored just after half time before Malakhi Donovan went over twice to put the score beyond the reach of the Roosters.
Ethan Duncombe spent a bit of time off the field in the second half. He was sin binned twice.
Speaking last week to Australian Community Media (ACM) last week Dark said the side could have been 'a bit underdone' by only playing one trial game before the season proper.
Those thoughts remained after the win over Central Coast.
"There were a few rough signs I saw without having that second trial," he said.
"It just gives us a few more things to work on."
Other round one winners in the under 18s competition were Illawarra South Coast, Western Rams, Monaro and Greater Northern Tigers.
The Bulldogs under 16s took the field earlier in the day and within four minutes Roosters winger Ryan Gardem was over with the first try of the game.
Bulldogs centre Connor Latham leveled the score just four minutes later and soon after had a double to give his side the lead.
The side put on a first half clinic, running in five tries to take a 22-4 lead into the break.
Winger Braith Powick also finished the half with two tries.
Bustling prop Luke Hayes scored the Bulldogs' only try in the second half before counterpart Cooper Wilesmith gave the Roosters some relief with a four pointer.
The Bulldogs finished 30-10 winners. The only blemish for the day was a Shane Davis-Caldwell sin bin in the 54th minute.
North Coast will be on the road in round two. They will travel to Sydney's McCredie Park to take on the Parramatta Eels.
Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Great Lakes Advocate newsletter here.