With just one win from the opening four rounds last season, Rugby Union would go on to enjoy an eight game winning run before losing in the Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket preliminary final.
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So, considering last season's slow start, skipper Ryan Peacock knows how important a solid start to the season is.
The Bulldogs were denied a spot in the big dance after rain washed out its two-day preliminary final with Orange City.
With the Warriors being the highest rank team during the regular season, they went through to the decider, while the high-flying Bulldogs were knocked out.
OTHER CLUB SEASON PREVIEWS:
Peacock believes he's team did little wrong in a fantastic run to the finals in 2020-21, except for it's slow start, which ultimately cost the Bulldogs the minor premiership.
So understandably, he wants his team to get some good results early in the season.
"I don't think there was much we could've changed but we did have a bit of a slow start to the season, which ultimately cost us finishing first," he said.
"There was also a few little one per cent mistakes that cost us along the way. It cost us from probably being in the grand final.
"But they're pretty easy things to fix. I'm pretty confident in the boys this season."
Bulldogs has a reasonable start to the season, away in Orange to Centrals at Riawena Oval in the opening round on October 31.
That is followed by games against Cavaliers (in Bathurst), Centennials Bulls (in Bathurst) and Orange City (in Orange), to complete the first month season, which are all one-day games.
Rugby Union has retained a majority of its squad for this season, but it has also welcomed a new face - Lachlan Coad.
Coad didn't play cricket last year, but Peacock went up against him when he was down in Sydney playing for St George.
Coad last played for the Penrith Cricket Club and linked up with Peacock's team after moving to town this year.
With Orange lifting from lockdown before Bathurst, the four Orange clubs - CYMS, Orange City, Cavaliers and Centrals - have all been able to train as a team for a few more weeks then their Bathurst counterparts.
While the Orange clubs might have a slight advantage, Peacock said his team was working just as hard in pairs during lockdown.
"I know we were doing as much training in pairs as we could," he said.
"We've managed to get that rust out in as much time as the Orange guys had.
"As far as being together in training as a team, the Orange guys probably have the upper hand but our side hasn't changed much from last year, so there's no real reason why we just can't role into the season and kick things off."
BOWLING
Hugh McIntyre was leading wicket-taker for Bulldogs in 2020-21 with 26, ranking fourth in the overall statistics, with Jeremy Thackray second best with 21.
Peacock is expecting another strong season with his bowlers.
"We're looking good. It'll be a bit different with our bowling attack, just the way we go about things," he said.
"We worked well to a plan last season, so I don't see any reason why we can't do it again last year."
BATTING
Rugby Union had four batsmen that hit close to or over 300 runs last year - Peacock (411), Sam Macpherson (380), Imran Qureshi (328) and Jameel Qureshi (298) - so there's no luck of firepower.
Peacock is confident that his team can be even stronger with the bat with the inclusion of Coad.
"We were strong last year and a few blokes stood up," he said.
"With the addition of Lachlan, our batting will definitely our strong point. We're really looking to bat teams out the game. I think that'll be our focus."
THE FAVOURITES
Peacock couldn't go past St Pat's Old Boys, last season's runners-up and minor premiers, as the team to beat.
"You can't really go past St Pat's, especially with the addition of Nic Broes," he said.
"I'm tipping him to have a really big season."
Bulldogs were the only team to defeat St Pat's in the regular season in 2020-21.
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