After scoring the opening try of the match through Robbie Byatt, Thunder dropped away badly with errors hurting them dearly.

The loss was compounded by an ankle injury to recruit Kane Hammond.

Hammond was making an impression in only his second match for the club and officials will be sweating on the seriousness of the injury.

Hooker Joe Lumb was a lionhearted performer while Jon Huggett and Adrian Purtell also made strong contributions.

“It was a bit like last week,” club president Rick O’Connell said.

“We made a few too many errors.

“The boys stuck at it, but at the end of the day the errors hurt us.”

Cootamundra scored 22 successive points before Englishman Brad Hill crossed deep in the second-half to break the Bulldogs’ run of points.

Youngster Reece Clegg debuted for Thunder and held his own in the second-row.

“It’s a new side and will take a bit of time to gel,” O’Connell said.

Albury Thunder take on undefeated Junee at Greenfield Park next Sunday and will be chasing their first win of the season.

In other matches, the Diesels defeated Wagga Brothers 18-16.

Flag fancies Southcity edged out fellow heavyweights Gundagai 28-22.

Temora brought down Young 24-8 and Tumut accounted for Kangaroos 30-24.