For the first time in more than 18 months, Shepparton Bulls returned to their home paddock on Saturday for oval-ball action in the Victorian Rugby Premiership.
Locking horns with competition juggernaut Kiwi Hawthorn, Sonny Tahuriorangi's Bulls gave a valiant account, but eventually left Vibert Reserve on the wrong end of a 26-10 result.
Well aware of the work-in-progress nature of the side, team manager Lala Toleafoa looked at the defeat through rose-tinted glasses after the margin from the previous weekend's loss to Wyndham City Rhinos was almost halved on Saturday.
“I think we improved tenfold from the week before,” she said.
“Because we didn't have any pre-season games, we are having to learn our mistakes as we play each week.
“In saying that, we were 150 per cent better on Saturday.”
Paea I Piula Salesi finished off a driving move for the Bulls, demonstrating tunnel vision to score Shepparton's sole five-pointer.
Tyson Tahuriorangi was a dead shot with the boot, converting his teammate's try and nailing a penalty to break the Bulls into double digits.
The Bulls are back on the road for the upcoming few rounds, facing Brimbank away in Saturday's round three encounter.
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