Local experience will be the difference on the day. This is the mantle under which the Crookwell Dated Dogs will take on their more fancied opponents, the Cauliflower Club XV at the Memorial Oval on Saturday March 30.
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Although the CCXV will take to the field boasting up to six ex-Wallabies and some of the finest regional rugby talent (in its day), that the state has to offer, the Dated Dogs remain unimpressed and unphased.
Dated Dogs captain, manager, probable best and fairest and goal- kicker Troy Maxwell "Fred" Bensley was recently pressed as to his thoughts on the upcoming encounter. "We have thirty players averaging one hundred and fifty first grade Dogs matches each. That's 4,500 games, roughly 2,250 appearance on the beloved Memorial Oval. Some of our opposition will need to buy their chauffeurs new maps just to find the field."
The Dated Dogs side has been training now for well over a month. Combinations are starting to come together, and players are starting to think about their opposite numbers and do their best to get over them individually.
Locks for the Dated Dogs at this stage look to be Andrew Nolan and Kenny McCallum. Their main line-out competition will come from Cauliflower founder and number one player Peter Fitzsimmons. Nolan and McCallum are formulating a plan to engage Fitzsimmons in an in-depth debate around the fundamentals of the Australian Republic Movement in the lunch prior to the game, forcing him to be late, or at least distracted. Failing this, the pair will target his bandana, and hurt his feelings.
Floyd Davies, when informed he will be lining up against Stephen Larkham, couldn't control his excitement. Larkham in his day was renowned for being a solid, structured team playing fly half.
Davies has always been known for his flamboyant style and ability to find a gap. Two contrasting styles may never have been on the Memorial Oval at the same time.
The two biggest battles, however, seem to be in the dressing shed and in the front row. Dated Dogs coach Ian McIntosh smirks off any thoughts that he will be out-thunk by Ex-World Cup winning mentor Bob Dwyer. McIntosh feels that the reason Em Madge was brought in to assist Dwyer is simply because he lacks the regional know-how to prepare an effective bush rugby team.
In his last CCXV hit out, approximately twelve months ago, former wallaby bad boy Geoff "The Duke" Didier lasted two minutes before suffering from a terrible rib cartilage injury. The Duke, strangely now, blames the entire Crookwell front row for his injury and plans on taking twelve months of frustration out on his opposing big men.
Regardless of the match ups, some scintillating fast-flowing bush rugby is promised at the Memorial Oval on March 30. Entertainment on-field from 1:30PM, with the Dogs season kicking off their 2019 season at 3:30 following the Cauliflower match.
