AFTER celebrating 75 years in South Coast Group 7 first grade rugby league this season you’d think the fact that Milton-Ulladulla has never staged a senior grand final would be most unusual to say the least.

With arguably the best viewing ground in the Group Seven competition for spectators with its elevated banks, bushland setting, perimeter fencing, bitumen driveway, off-street parking, state-of-art lighting, fully provided amenities, easy assessablity and a brilliantly lush playing surface rated the best in rural NSW by respected NRL coach Steve Folkes last year, the Dogs once again continue to press their claims for Andreski Oval to be the venue of this year’s first grade grand final in eight weeks.

Along with Warilla, who has never hosted a senior grand final since its foundation 42 years ago, the Bulldogs have tried several times for a grand final venue, but have been refused continuously due to petty restrictions by officialdom over the years, even though the Dogs hosted a spectacular national television outdoor event that attracted a crowd of 6000 hungry and thirsty patrons to the ground.

Sadly blighted by years of procrastination, ignorance and disregard for one of the region’s major rugby league strongholds, the Dogs have still managed to attract, promote and stage an international rugby league fixture and several NRL visitations from some of the most high profile teams in the nation.

Still, the Dogs continue to press their claims for a grand final and hope this time that Group Seven officials will give the southern club the nod.

Since entering the South Coast Rugby League in 1933, the Milton club has played under the auspices of both the Group Seven Association and the South Coast Group Seven League which has seen the Dogs distinguish themselves by winning eight senior premierships and 22 junior titles in that period.

Over time, the Bulldogs have grown in strength and skill and today boast 16 teams.

Club president Barry Ryan said the Bulldogs had ticked all the right boxes and hoped Group 7 officials would see the merit in holding the grand final at Andreski Oval.

“It’s the best ground in the region and thousands of people down here are screaming out for the first grade grand final,” he said.

“Three generations of Milton-Ulladulla residents have been denied the sight of a grand final and I think that warrants serious consideration when you take into account 17,000 residents today and hundreds and hundreds of children and their parents who have never seen a senior grand final and all the excitement that goes with it.”

After an absence of six years since the last first grade grand final was held south of Nowra at Batemans Bay in 2002 after northern stints at Albion Park, Shellharbour and Berry, it is hoped fairness and commonsense will finally prevail and the Dogs can celebrate their 75th anniversary in style by hosting this season’s first grade grand final for the first time.