Gunnedah Bulldog Jordy Ford feels the bite of the Wee Waa tackle from Panther pair Lindsay Pawley (left) and Blake Kelly last season. The Bulldogs begin their new season with home games against Moree and West Lions. Photo: Grant Robertson 310312GRB37
GUNNEDAH Bulldogs are prepared for a big start to their Group 4 league season after drawing home games in the first two rounds against Moree and reigning premiers West Lions.
It is the perfect start, club president Ray McCoy said of the favourable draw.
“We have nine home games this year, with a majority of our games to be played on Saturday,” McCoy said.
“We are also considering a couple of Friday night feature games.
“And we have had some really good numbers at training too.
“We had 51 the first night and 30 of those were quality seniors.
“Muscles (first grade coach Phil Donnelly) was as happy as a pig in mud.
“It’s going to make Shane Rampling’s job (second grade coach) easier too.
“Coupled with the strong juniors we have in 18s (under coach Wayne Griffiths) and some great young kids coming into the 16s (under coach Dave “Dooga” McCann) it’s absolutely brilliant.”
He said rugby league was looking even stronger, with the local Gunnedah Junior League’s recent annual general meeting drawing about 40 people.
“They have a new female president and two female secretaries,”McCoy said.
“The turnout was superb, so they are looking good too.”
Gunnedah plays Moree in the first round of the 2013 Group 4 competition at Kitchener Park on the weekend of April 20/21, with West Lions at home to Narrabri Blues and Wee Waa hosting North Tamworth Bears at Cook Oval, Wee Waa.
The week after, the Bulldogs tackle West Lions in a Kitchener Park blockbuster.
It’s a favourable start, with the Bulldogs to play Inverell in a pre-season trial before playing in the North Tamworth Invitational Knockout on March 16/17 and then the Wests Knockout.
That Wests KO has a different format this year, McCoy said.
“The First Division clubs play normal but the Second Division start their competition that Saturday so the three winning teams plus Werris Creek (who have the bye) play on the Sunday,” McCoy said.
“Sunday’s Group meeting also asked West to revisit the decision not to have a reserve grade. All the other five clubs, including Wee Waa, have reserve grades this year.
“Ken Anderson has done a mighty job at Wee Waa. They even look like having a 16s as well.
“And Moree look like being strong too so our first two home games are going to be pretty good.”