The Kiama Cows travelled to Crookwell last Friday evening with a full strength (last year practically undefeated Sydney 1st grade capable) side. The Cows were out for a relaxing weekend in the country and some soft Rugby to break up the drinking, or so they thought.

Both coaches met pre-game and decided to play three 20 minute thirds to open up the season.

All was not looking good for the Dogs pre-game with three players injured at training on the Thursday night, then local educator Dan Wetherall and 7 news man Mark Ferguson were ruled out in the pre-game warm up - both with suspected ‘heartilage’ problems after seeing the Kiama boys get off the bus.

With 28 Dogs players still available Coach Bruce Nixon still had plenty of options coming into the game.

The pre season record crowd of 389 (numbers supplied by gate keeper Duck Shepherd) were enjoying some beautiful Autumn weather, extremely cold cans and with the smell of freshly cut grass and deep heat in the air, the 2014 season was under way.

As the ball was taken by the Cows from the kick off it was at this stage that the Kiama boys found out they were in for some full-on country rugby not the relaxing weekend they had hoped for.

The Dogs pack BLOW HOLED the Kiama forwards at every opportunity and the pre season flogging they had had was paying dividends with all players looking very fresh for this time of the season.

At the end of the first 20 minutes it was 0 all and the Kiama coach was all out of options. With the record crowd (now 489) wanting some entertaining Rugby, coach Nixon made some key changes at the break which paid dividends early into the 2nd third with the dogs going over to score the first try after some great lead up work. The Dogs scrum was dominant all evening (even though the keys to the scrum machine could not be found all week.) This laid the platform for the second try after the Dogs scrum marched the Kiama pack backwards 49 metres to end up in the front row of the chook shed bar.

The Kiama backline looked dangerous at stages but failed to score with some amazing scrambling defence by the Dogs on 29 occasions.

As the last third started, the record crowd (now 589 as the word had spread about the bar prices) was wondering if the Dogs fitness would hold up. Phil Price on the other hand was also wondering if the beer supply would hold out until the final whistle as a lack of beer at this stage would be season ending for his bar job.

As the Dogs scored again, all hopes of a Kiama come back had vanished except until the last five minutes when they scored three quick tries (thank God for the goal we kicked).

No individual players have been singled out as the game was an all in great team effort (and the writer at the time of print was still piecing together the evening’s events)

The Dogs would like to thank Mark Ferguson for the jumper presentation, all Major sponsors (7News, Crookwell Golf Club, Landmark Crookwell, SMR, Duncombe & Co and Laggan Pub) and the U.L.S.C for the great playing surface with Kiama stating it was the best field they had played on.

Also the great crowd support (officially 589 verified by SMR Accounting).

A great presentation and season launch was held back at the Crookwell Golf Club after the game and once again the boys were undefeated in the boat race (now 19 years).

First home game for The Crookwell Dogs will be the local derby on May 3 v Taralga