June 3: Acclimatised Lions revel in the wet: Orange City takes the first grand final rematch of the 2013 Blowes Clothing Cup season, defeating Dubbo 'Roos 25-3 in a wet affair at Pride Park. Strangling the life out of the visiting Roos, Orange City scores four tries in a bonus-point mauling to further bolster the side's credentials on the path to back-to-back first grade premierships.
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June 3: Lack of preparation pens in Rams: Western Division captain Darren Jackson says more can be done to prepare the squad for future Country Championship titles after the Rams bowed out of the 2013 tournament with a 40-28 loss to the Central Coast in Cooma. In their first appearance back in the top flight since 2009, the Rams were steam-rolled in the final 20 minutes of the match after leading 22-16. Making the loss even worse, Hawks half Scott Rosser suffers a broken hand.
June 4: Belmonte in seventh heaven: Jason Belmonte wins his seventh Professional Bowlers Association title after spectacularly surging from 10th to first in qualifying before stringing seven straight strikes together to clinch the Lucas Oil Bear Open. Belmonte took care of business in the final, bowling a 235 game versus Chris Barnes' 211 effort.
June 6: Two biggest Dogs show true colours: Canterbury Bulldogs giants Frank Pritchard and Sam Kasiano make the trip west to Lithgow to watch CYMS play in Lithgow, with the pair of NRL stars in regular contact with green and gold's prop Des Knight. Knight labells the presence a great thing for bush football, with the pair obliging in having photos taken and signing autographs.
June 6: We can win it: Orange coach Pete Shea says his side can win the 2013 Hockey NSW Open Women's Field State Championship division two title. Shea has picked a side glittering with talent as they head to Narellan to face Manning Valley, South Coast, Far North Coast and Grafton.
June 8: Aplin aims high: Orange captain Mardi Aplin doesn't set low expectations for her side in the Netball NSW Open State Championship. Orange took out the open division two title last year in their return to the staye competition and earning a promotion in 2013, Alpin said her side wasn't heading to Kellyville just to make up the numbers.
June 11: A silverware surprise: Orange comes away from this year's Netball NSW Open state Championship as the Country Cup champions. Awarded to the highest placed regional association in the open championship division, Orange takes home the Pat Weston OAM Country Champions Cup after finishing the tournament in third place overall.
June 11: Orange girls finish with a flourish: Orange's girls finish the 2013 Hockey NSW Women's Field State Championship division two tournament in fifth, despite losing just the one game. The men narrowly miss out on bringing home a state title, losing the final of the division two Hockey NSW Open Men's Field State Championship 4-1 against Sydney (2).
June 12: Sixth Melbourne Cup sits well with Belmonte: Orange's Jason Belmonte wins a record sixth Melbourne Cup title. Claiming a third-straight crown with scores of 268, 246 and 235 in the final, Belmonte adds his recent hat-trick to titles in 2002, 2004 and 2007.
June 14: Sevens heaven for Sheahan: James Sheahan Catholic High school has taken out the NSW Country Schoolboys pen Sevens championship in a thrilling final over Tuggerah Lakes. Played as the curtain raiser for the Combined Country versus British and Irish Lions match in Newcastle, the Sheahan boys scored a stoic 26-12 victory.
June 14: Girl power sets up big lead for OHS: Orange High School takes a day-one Astley Cup lead over Dubbo Senior College, with the school's girls leading the charge in a 287.5 to 112.5 points advantage. Orange takes wins in the tennis, hockey and netball while Dubbo scored a narrow two point win in the basketball.
June 15: Job half done for Orange High School: Orange High School completes an Astley Cup upset, rounding out a dominant tie against heavyweights Dubbo Senior College. OHS takes wins in the rugby league, girls football, athletics and boys' football to hold a commanding 561.5 to 238.5 hold on the Cup after the first leg.
June 17: Hawks prevail in battle of the defence: Defence proves crucial in Orange Hawks' 18-14 win over Orange CYMS. Completing a second Group 10 derby win for 2013, the two blues coming from 14-12 down to secure the win at Wade Park.
June 17: Emus' semi chances blowing in the wind: Orange Emus record just their second win of the 2013 Blowes Clothing Cup. The Greens record a much-needed 13-10 road victory over the Bathurst Bulldogs but still remain anchored on the bottom of the ladder.
June 18: Country connection: Alex Said, Sam Hopwood and Rachel Divall earn Country selection for the upcoming Australian Country Championships in Geraldton, Western Australia. It's Hopwood and Divall's debut while Said is a relative veteran, earning his fourth country cap.
June 19: International duty: Orange City coach Steve Hamson labels his role as liaison officer of the touring British and Irish Lions as a "once in a lifetime opportunity". Invited by the Australian Rugby Union to assist the Lions with logistics while in Sydney, Hamson rubs shoulders with some of the best rugby union players in the world.
June 20: Sam a step closer to national title fight: Sam Ah-See moves a step closer to an Australian title bout following a win over Joel Dela Cruz. The Orange boxer defeats Dela Cruz with a technical knockout victory to clinch his eight career victory in eight fights.
June 22: Astley Cup hopes pass by Orange: Orange's hope of reclaiming the Astley Cup hang by a thread following a disappointing tie against the Bathurst High School juggernaut. Defending champions, Bathurst claims a narrow 414 to 386 victory which appears enough heading to Dubbo to take a weaker Senior College.
June 24: CYMS embarrass Mudgee: Orange CYMS score 62-12 victory over the Dragons in Mudgee. The 50-point thumping is the highest losing margin suffered by the Dragons at home, with seven of the 10 tries scored by CYMS through their backline.
June 24: Double trouble: Orange's two Blowes Clothing Cup sides rack up wins at home. The Lions remain unbeaten on top of the ladder with a 26-15 win over Parkes while Emus keep their finals chances alive with a 26-18 win over the Bathurst Bulldogs.
June 25: Cody on a wing and a prayer: Orange CYMS flyer Cody Robbins gets the call-up for the NSW Country Seconds Bulls following a strong effort with Western Division and Group 10.
THEY SAID IT:
"If we make errors after points like we did all game we're going to get beat regularly. We're badly out of form. We need the ball to win games and they want to turn it over cheaply" - Mick Sullivan after his side blew a 14-12 lead to lose the second all-Orange Group 10 derby by four points.
THE FIVE MOST READ SPORT STORIES ON THE CENTRAL WESTERN DAILY WEBSITE IN JUNE, 2013:
1. VIDEO: Hawks prevail in battle of the defences; 2. Emus chase a spot in the five; 3. Larrikin quality will help Maloney: Fitzgerald; 4. CYMS slay Dragons; 5. Lions repeat Parkes result.
