Playing on an ill-prepared Bungendore track which more resembled an unirrigated Bensley spud paddock than a football field, the dogs laid on five tries to two in a game of two distinct halves.

The first half was a display of defensive dominance and that flexible Doggy attack that just has a habit of finding try lines.

Nearing the end of the first half the boys from Bungendore spent almost five minutes and as many as twenty phases hammering Crookwell’s line, but on each of those twenty occasions the Dogs line held.

Total concentration, brilliant communication and unbridled commitment were evident as this still under-strength Crookwell outfit were determined to leave Bungendore with a bonus point victory.

The second half was gritty and mistake ridden. While the effort level could not be faulted, the Crookwell boys lacked polish. This polish will come as experienced players return, positions get bedded down and combinations develop.

A well-known fact is that it is seemingly impossible to teach old dogs new tricks.

This was not an issue on the weekend in Bungendore for old dog Ryan Seaman.

While the quiet mild-mannered accountant-by-day may be closer to forty that thirty (just), he was simply brilliant on the weekend. Ryan employed the age-old niggle to unsettle the Mudchooks pack. His ability to be everywhere, tackle everything and continually puncture the oppositions defense kept the Crookwell pack in front.

Mitchell McGeechan’s performance out wide was brilliant. He had a hand in two of Crookwell’s five tries and saved two with one on one must-make defensive efforts.

Gearin Price returned to his preferred running distance to score tries of thirty centimetres and captain courageous Scott Kensit opened his five pointer account for the season.

Mark Kennedy returned from captaining the Aussie Amber Fluid Consumption team at the Commonwealth games to replace injured flyhalf Tommy Worman and crossed the stripe for his first scoreline contribution.

Marilyn Monroe Roberts scored the Dogs other two tries while Good Will Hall converted one try and Andrew Nolan showed that he can still do it with a forty eight metre penalty goal.

Next week the Dogs return to Crookwell with a home game against the Yass Rams.

While stand-in half Angus ‘Adidas’ Hedges is likely to hold on to the starting nine jumper, next week should also see the return of captain and scrumhalf, Aaron Leighton.

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