A DREADFUL third quarter during which the Coolangatta Blues conceded 55 points proved costly against Sandgate at Len Peak Oval on Saturday.

The Blues held a 25-point lead at half-time but the visitors piled on seven goals in the third quarter to lead by 20 points heading into the final term.

The Blues stepped it up in the fourth quarter but were left to rue their earlier lack of concentration as Sandgate ran out 18.14 (122) to 16.15 (106) winners.

“Our third quarter was abominable, very ugly and very unacceptable,” Blues Coach Neil Mackay said.

“When they beat us up, they beat us up badly, that is what we have got to get out of our game.

“We got smashed badly.

“We couldn’t slow it down and they had 14 shots on goal (in the third term) ... they only had 32 shots for the game.”

At least the coaching staff knows what they have to work on to get the Blues up to standard.

“When we have a down period we need to remain competitive, but our third quarter wasn’t competitive at all, which is very anti what we are trying to become,” Mackay said.

“Sandgate were always going to come back and have a period of time when they would dominate. We needed to hang in there, fight tooth and nail to stop them getting ahead, then get the momentum back and away we go.

“If the opposition does get on a bit of a roll, we need to shut it down quicker.

“It is one issue not out of our system, we need to keep persisting on it and get that bad habit out.”

Mackay wasn’t particularly happy with his side’s first half, even though the home side dominated on the scoreboard.

The Blues had 18 shots at goal but some wayward kicking meant they landed just eight goals.

“We played well in the first half, we dominated ... but when the game was there to cement, and put on ice, we didn’t stand up,” Mackay said.

“The bottom line is there was a win there we should have capitalised on, it was there and we didn’t take it.”

The Cairns brothers Chris and Sam were again among the standouts for the Blues with Chris booting four goals to be the team’s leading goalscorer.

Emmaus Wartuvo finished with three majors.

In the next round, the Blues will take on Palm Beach at Len Peak Oval in the local derby with former Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs star Jason Akermanis set to make an appearance.

In other Premier Division matches at the weekend, Burleigh beat Springwood by four points; Palm Beach flogged Mayne 211-80; Surfers Paradise were beaten by Western Magpies 88-83 and Wilson Grange defeated Noosa 113-101.