The Seagulls went in as favourites to beat the newly promoted Essendon Bombers in the comfortable surroundings of JK Grant Reserve only to be left winless after a 3-2 loss.

Hockey director Merryn Brennan said her side was behind the eight ball. "They were pretty disappointed with that result," she said. "They can do a lot better."

The Seagulls' coming clash with Camberwell takes on extra significance given their poor early season form.

"The next couple of weeks are going to be pretty important," Brennan said.

Meanwhile, the Seagulls' women's state league 2 outfit is cruising. It backed up from a 5-0 round one triumph over Mornington Peninsula with a 3-0 drubbing of Monash University in the second round at home on Saturday.

■ Footscray Bulldogs was rolled 2-1 by arch-rivals Werribee Tigers in the men's state league 2 western suburbs derby. Tigers boss Tobi Wright took great delight in the victory. "There's a fair bit of rivalry between the two of us over the years," he said. "It goes back at least 20 years because a lot of our parents are ex-Footscray and they come to Werribee when they move to the area." Lance Jenkinson