“We just made silly mistakes this week,” Mudgee coach Greg Horton said.

“Our forwards still won plenty of ball but once we got into contact – a ruck or a maul – we were losing possession.

“They capitalised really well on those turnovers.”

It’s been a tough opening for the Batties but they’ll be comforted by the next part of the schedule which sees them play a pair of home games after the league’s general bye on Saturday April 28.

Horton’s goal is to jag a win in that two-game stretch and see if his side can assert itself towards the end of the campaign.

“At this stage the key for us is to get to the end of the first round in two weeks,” he said.

“At that point we’ll know what the teams we play will be like.

“The next two games against Dubbo and Blayney are really important for us. We’d like to win at least one.”

Horton commended the new system, touting the competition as ‘competitive’ and hopes his side can get back into the mix on May 5 against Blayney.