Wests v Norths Sylvan Road 3:00pm - 10/4/2010
8	Round 01	55

Norths got their 2010 season off to the best possible start with a 55-8 win over 2009 wooden spooners Wests at Sylvan Rd

Norths maintained their unbeaten trial form in scoring eight tries against the hapless Bullodgs after racing to a 29-3 halftime lead.

The Eagles posted two tries in the first 10 minutes, including one to former New Zealand rugby league international Sione Faumuina playing at inside centre.

Norths' hooker Ryan Schultz showed tremendous strength in crossing for the first of his two tries for the match, while QR Reds centre Blair Connor grabbed the first of his brace of tries with a first half intercept.

This seemed to spark the Bulldogs as they closed out the half with some solid sets of play and some strong defence.

Thy took that resurgence into the second half when lock Will Campbell intercepted a bad pass and ran the almost the full length of the field, the play leading to a try to Wests captain Poutasi Luafutu.

However the fightback didn't last and when Schultz crossed for his second at the 65th minute mark, the writing was on the wall. Norths scored three more tries to win going away.

Norths' assistant coach Lew Price was pleased at the win but said the Eagles had plenty to work on before next week's home game against 2009 grand finalists Souths

“We need to focus on discipline, structures of sets, and to not loosen up, we need it tight,” he said.

New Bulldogs coach Rob Murdoch was encouraged by his side's ability to build some good phases of play, until errors let them down.

“We made too many errors, and Norths capitalised on those errors really really well,” said Murdoch.

Norths 55 (R Schultz 2, B Connor 2, E La Motta, S Faumuina, L Samoa, J Samoa tries, L Samoa  6 cons, pen) bt Wests (P Luafutu try, I Aokuso pen)

Match report by Jacob Shields