DUBBO CYMS chairman Kevin Walkom believes the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs were surprised by the quality of football they came up against during Saturday's pre-season gala day at Barden Park.
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In a day where matches were played from the under-6s through to seniors, the Bulldogs won both the first grade and reserve grade matches.
The first grade was a hard-fought match with the final scoreline of 36-20 not reflective of the arm wrestle, despite the Bulldogs always being ahead.
Two late Kurri Kurri tries sealed the win but Walkom said all matches during the day were well contested.
"Kurri Kurri were surprised by the contest of the games," he said.
"They're from a strong rugby league area, their competition is just one step down from the NSW Cup and any team with former NRL players like Terence Seu Seu is a good one.
"Our juniors performed really well, our reserve grade had a tough hit out and so did our first grade.
"In reflection it probably wasn't a bad game for them to lose because it shows them where they've got to improve."
With Caltex Park unavailable until the Group 11 season kick-off on April 12, a makeshift rugby league field was created in the middle of Barden park and despite it being slightly smaller than a regular field, Walkom said it catered well for the day.
There was also plenty of support from both clubs with a good-sized crowd turning out.
"It was well supported by the community, it was just a gold coin donation at the gate and kids got in free and we raised just shy of $1,800 so you could say there was about 900 people," Walkom said.
In terms of the first grade match, Walkom said the returning Billy Sing was close to CYMS' best on the park.
The Fishies trailed for virtually the entire match but inside the final 10 minutes they got the score back to 24-20.
But two late tries to the Bulldogs saw them seal a pre-season win.
"It was a pretty good hit out, Billy (Sing) stood out and Colby Pellow was good at five-eighth," Walkom said.
"Colby's young brother Tony was good off the bench too, for a 19-year-old he showed good skills and was lightning fast off the mark.
"John Grey was good too but Billy Sing was probably the standout."
After a dominant trial win over Cobar and the Kurri Kurri match, CYMS' attention now turns to the Group 11 round one match against Narromine on April 12.