PORT Macquarie Dolphins found out the hard way why Tamworth Thunderbolts are the team to beat in the Waratah League division one competition this season.
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The Thunderbolts proved far too good for the Dolphins, registering a comfortable 88-64 victory on Saturday night.
Dolphins coach Mark Champion, however, remained upbeat following the 24-point defeat.
“They came out really hard and pretty much ran it down our throats for most of the first half,” he said.
Tamworth were always in control of the match after they raced out to a 45-12 lead in the second quarter, but Champion was pleased his side didn’t allow the scoreline to blow out.
“At half-time it looked like they would put 100 or more on us so we slowed them down in the second half,” he said.
“We probably won the second half.”
The Thunderbolts were inspired by import Kyle Gupton who topscored with 34 points.
“He just couldn’t miss at various stages,” Champion said.
Tamworth bounced back from last week’s 101-57 hammering at the hands of St George and Champion acknowledged he felt it was always a possibility.
“They got touched up last week and the thing you find with teams who don’t lose very often is they come out firing the following week and that’s what happened,” he said.
“They definitely looked like the number one team in the competition.”
Port Macquarie ground its way back into the contest in the second half, but they had left themselves too much work to do.
“You can’t give a side like Tamworth 30 points head-start and expect to run them down,” Champion said.
“They jumped out on us and we never recovered. We couldn’t keep up with them.”
The Dolphins found a way to win against North Sydney last week, but what worked seven days ago was unlikely to work against one of the best teams in the competition.
“I was disappointed we turned the ball over as much as we did,” Champion said.
“It was a similar story to last week, but you can afford to do that against Norths – you can’t against Tamworth.
“We kept on fighting and didn’t give up, our teamwork was a lot better and we generated better shots in the second half.”
While disappointed to round out the home season with another defeat, Champion was steadfast in his belief the Dolphins remained headed in the right direction.
“We knuckled down and kept fighting and won the second half so that was pleasing,” he said.
“Our first half showed the problems we’re still having, but the second half showed the improvement we’ve made.
Sam Petrie was one of the Dolphins best on court despite a broken thumb, while Brad Barnett was their top scorer.
“Everyone contributed, but our highest contribution was about 14 and the lowest was seven,” Champion said.
