The first round of the Western Premier League hinted at the quality and competitiveness in the region but the verdict from all sides was the same - it's only going to get better.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The revamped competition was the first senior sport to return to the region's fields and the three matches all finished at 1-1.
The impact of a disrupted preparation was clear to see across the competition, most notably in Dubbo where a number of Bulls players battled cramp during the second half of the clash with Panorama FC.
Clubs have only had limited training sessions since the lockdown ended while contact was only allowed at training from last week.
"Our fitness obviously isn't at the level I'd like it to be," Bulls coach Jason Schink said after his game.
"We've only had four sessions, I think, so fitness-wise we're off the pace a bit but I still think skill-set wise we played very well so I'm stoked to get 1-all against that side with the players we were missing."
ROUND ONE REPORTS:
Panorama manager Brent Osborne said it could take more than a month before the best his side can offer is produced on the pitch while Orana Spurs captain Jared Corby, after playing out a draw at Parkes, echoed that sentiment.
"We need that match fitness under out belt," he said.
The other draw in the opening round was played out between Barnstoneworth FC and Dubbo's Macquarie United at Orange.
Barnies captain Josh Summerson was content with a share of the points but he too expects teams to only get better.
"They're a bit like us," he said of Macquarie.
"Broken from stop-start training but when their combinations get going in 3-4 weeks, it'll be a completely different story."
And while it's clear the matches are only going to reach a higher level, the biggest for all involved was to have the competition back.
The league was abandoned after the 2012 season due to a lack of interest but has been revived in a big way.
There was initially nine clubs set to take part but both the South Dubbo Wanderers and Waratahs FC dropped out to due the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown.
But the competition has gone ahead and there was a handy crowd at Lady Cutler 6 on Saturday evening for the Bulls' opener.
Osborne, someone who played a major role in getting the league up and running again, was especially satisfied to see the sides run out.
"It's special for me because I was involved in getting it off the ground," he said.
"When the whistle blew ... it has special meaning and looking at the results coming in across the region we had three draws today so it's going to be a tight competition and I think it's a great step forward for the region."
Round 1
- PARKES COBRAS 1 (Daniel Clark) drew with ORANA SPURS 1 (Peter Morrison) at Woodward Oval, Parkes
- BARNSTONEWORTH UNITED 1 (Paulo Grassi) drew with MACQUARIE UNITED 1 (Glen Schein pen) at Jack Brabham Park, Orange
- DUBBO BULLS 1 (Gareth Williams) drew with PANORAMA 1 (Ryan Peacock pen) at Lady Cutler Oval, DubboLITHGOW WORKMEN'S bye