Bowral Blacks Rugby Union first grade side was unlucky not to post more points when they met 2003 premiers Kiama at Eridge Park on Saturday.
While the final score line read 34-5, the Blacks played some good football for which they were not rewarded.
The Blacks also took to the field missing some ten regular first-graders and were facing a side with a much bigger forward pack.
However, this did not faze the young Blacks', who took it up to their larger opponents.
Club coach Paul Mulready said he was extremely happy with the increased effort of the players after they were smashed a fortnight earlier by Vikings.
"The guys had been working very hard at training and that showed out on the field. I am pleased that they put their heads down and dug deep against a strong side," he said.
Despite being camped close to their line for the start of the first half, Bowral's defence held strong and then they were able to move into their opponents half with some menacing attacks.
They in fact crossed the line first, only for the gutsy Kiama forwards to hold Aaron Melverton up over the line.
Kiama's strength was out wide and of their four first-half tries (two converted), two of them were scored by the quick outside backs who were able to make breaks against the run of play.
"We dropped off in intensity late in the first half and they were able to rack up some points," Mulready said. "But apart from that period I think the game was very closely contested."
Bowral went to the break 24-0 down in a half that was marred by some questionable refereeing decisions.
It was a different situation in the second half with Bowral taking the ball up even harder and being rewarded when hard-working prop Scott Matuku crossed to put the home side on the board.
A possible third try was also snatched from the Blacks when Jarrod Medley was held up as he crossed near the corner.
While the Blacks had their chances, they also missed opportunities when an overlap down the left wing saw the outside backs heading for a certain try only to be pulled up for a forward pass.
The same occurred in the second half, this time down the right wing, when the ball was carried over the line, only to be pulled up because of a forward pass.
Two penalty opportunities were also wasted, one in each half, when the ball was kicked dead and, instead of the Black throw into the lineout on the Kiama line, Kiama were kicking the ball out from the 22-metre line.
What the game did show was that when Bowral meet Kiama later in the season, the reigning premiers will have to fight much harder for their points.
Andrew Cummins played well for the home side and was deservedly awarded two refs' points, while Matuku, Melverton and Medley also dug deep.
Coach Mulready said he wasn't too concerned about the score because the players had stuck to their game plan and started implementing some positive changes.
"No disrespect to the players we had out there, they can hold their heads up high, but it was basically a reserve grade side," he said. "We lacked a little potency out wide and some muscle up forward. We will improve with some representative and injured players returning in coming weeks."
Mulready stopped short of calling 2004 a rebuilding year, but hinted as much when he spoke of the Blacks' forwards.
"We were the dominant pack of the competition for a decade and a lot of those guys have retired. We're almost starting again with a bunch of 20 and 21-year-olds and that takes time," he said.
"I think we'll have a big second half of the year."
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