Dawn of a New Dog - 29/10/2008

Off field issues continued to hamper the decimated Dog outfit. With Andy Zee out with a torn pectoral and Davy Mac yet to pull on the Dog Jersey this season, it was left to LOL to steady the wayward Dog ship. 2 places in the lineup to fill, it was a difficult time for the selectors, and not knowing what structure the opposition would field, the Dead Dogs took 3 possible substitutes to fill the 2 vacant places. DDD Senior, Granny Glen and Ring in Ranga were all fighting for the honour of pulling on the Baggy Brown. In a late move before the trade window closed, Pirate Pip, thought to broadside the Dog ship, with a firm but fair offer for Granny glen to slide into the all lady line up, opposing the Dog Arch nemesis 'The Bowls Bags'. In what turned out to be a route, that move would pay dearly for the Bowls Bags as for the first time in living memory, they sucumb to an all lady line up, going down the the inspired Ladies of Leisure!

The decision made for the dog on the selection front, only more fuel was added to the dog fire, as the opposition knowingly turned up with 3 players, and thus gaining an advantage disliked by the Dog. Failing to jump from the starting gate the Dog fell behind by 3 on the first end, not coming within a firm spit of the kitty. Another 1 down on the second and the Dog felt this would be another night of horror and misfortune. 4 ends in and the Dog could not find its legs, and holding a 2 shot lead thanks to the Ranga, and with DDD Jr left to bowl, the dogs thought to peg back the start they had given the opposition. Driving was the opposing captain best shot and straight into the pack, the dogs failing to leave any bowls long, was exposed and the team of 3 had 4 markers with 1 bowl remaining. DDD Jr shinned his bowl with a carful caress, soft and subtle in an attempt to persuade it to hold off the 4 shots, but too close to the side gutter, DDD could not get his last shinny black bowl to come back into play, so the Dog went further behind, and looked down and out.

There are moments in history that will forever be looked apon as miracles of human endevour, when against insurmountable odds, something stirs within the fabric of a team, and they dig deep within themselves to find their inner Dog. 2004 saw a battled club, raise their hand one last time against their all time foe. 3-0 down in a best of 7 series, no club in history had come back to win from such a defecite..... let alone to do it against the most successful club in baseball history. Down by 1 and in the bottom of the 9th, the Boston Red Sox, had a belief, on that day they found their inner Dog.................... Last night few were witness to an even bigger feat against greater odds. The Dog all but dead, down by 9 at the 5th end found its fight, and the more you provoked it, the more th Dog fought for its life.

10-1 in the top of the 6th. Every team has a rock, a player who when down and out is at their most dangerous.... for the Dog its Lead Off Linda. Seeing defeat in the eyes of her skipper, she sought to rally the Dog and once again asked for some stiring words. Looking at the scorecard, and seeing the slim but attainable chance the Dog had, DDD Jr took some of the hope that sprung from the heart of LOL and delivered a stiring speach, worthy of a gerneal leading his troops into battle for the last time. DDD asked his team for more attack early, wanting preassure from the first bowl of each end......... and he got it. LOL laid down a withering hail of attack, and the Dog got itself on the scorecard. What happened next even the believers could not fathom. A down and out dog, looking more like road kill than any form of 4 legged animal...... unable to tell its arse from its head at times, found the fight it had lacked. Maybe it was shock or it could have been a release of methane, but the look on the faces of the 3 player opposition changed when the Dogs chalked up 5 in the 7th and said..... I WILL NOT GO OUT LIKE THIS, I WILL NOT DIE TONIGHT!

10-7, and enough ends to get any convict excited after a long time at sea, the dog thought to place its name at the head of the list of the 15 greatest comebacks of all time. With DDD snr and Ring in Ranga showing late form, the Dogs bludgeoned the opposition back to level pegging and with 3 ends to go, delivered a telling blow, with another end of a 5. The route almost complete, the last 2 ends were nothing more than a formality and the Dogs had placed themselves at the top of a illustrious list of teams able to defy the odds and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Worth mention has to go to the Dogs 2 debutants, who while a little off early, were crucial in the fight back and victory.

Raffle results saw nothing go the way of the Dog, but they were all but content with the stunning come from behind victory.

Dogs Best
LOL - always the stalwart, inspiring and at times devistating
DDD snr - hot and cold, he needs to learn the pecking order of the Dog, the Skippers decision is final!!
Ring in Relly the Ranga - slow start but blinding finish with 4 scoring bowls in the last 3 ends
DDD Jr - hey we won, I dont care!