Falling just two points shy of a ticket to the big show in 2017, first grade coach Nathan Heffernan is keen to see his side go one better this season. 

“We’ve practically kept the same side from last year, so the expectations are high,” Heffernan said. 

The Bulldogs unfortunately dropped their first outing for the year by just two points to the resurgent Bay Tigers 36-34 on Sunday in howling winds.  

Meanwhile, the reserves slammed their opposition 44-10.

The combined Eden-Merimbula-Pambula 18s also had a win 38-16 and the league-tag combine overcame the Bay 18-10. 

In the headline match, the Bulldogs led at the break 22-12.

Tries had come from Dylan Fletcher, Jake Mikula, Jarrod Cole and forward Ryan Becker, Heffernan said the side was a “little sloppy in defense” and just “lost a bit of focus” with the wind against them in the second half. 

He said the Bay scored a couple of tries too easily with scoots out of dummy-half, but did say the team would learn quickly from their mistakes in the hopes of a grand final spot. 

“The last couple of years we have been in that top three, but had slow starts to the season, we really can’t afford that with the shorter 12-round season,” he said. 

“But we’ve had a couple of inclusions with some Eden guys joining after they unfortunately folded and we are keen to build on last year.”

Meanwhile, the reserve grade has been resplendent, putting near 50-point results on the cards. 

Heffernan said numbers at training had been great with 30-40 guys hitting the track every week and the second-grade group were “knocking at the door” of first grade places, adding valuable depth this season. 

“Everyone is having a really good crack and it’s been great for the club – they’re piling on the points and there are some good guys there,” Heffernan said. 

The coach says one of the strong points for the Bulldogs is that they don’t make business of pursuing players from other areas and a majority of players had been on the field together since they were kids. 

“When you come to home games, everyone knows everyone – almost all of these guys have come through the juniors into first grade and we’re excited to see them build again this season.”

Four games will run at the Pambula Sporting Complex on Sunday including two-league tag clashes for the Eden combine, while the first grade goes ahead at 2pm.