“SOMEONE must have kissed a leprechaun along the line ... we’ve had plenty of luck up there.”
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Orange City co-coach Mick Gray need not look any further.
We’ve found the smoochers.
Using another get out of jail free card in Parkes last weekend, Orange City duo Cameron Cole and Joe Alexander orchestrated the match-winning try that netted the two-time undefeated Blowes Clothing Cup premiers a last-gasp 17-16 victory at Northparkes Oval.
Deep into injury time, Alexander grubbered ahead for Cole to score in the corner to cap a remarkable round one encounter and ensure the Lions’ unbeaten run, now standing at 39 games, remains in tact.
It’s the second time the Lions have come from the canvas to topple the Boars in Parkes after last season’s 24-21 come-from-behind victory was sealed with a Mesui Lemoto try right at the death.
Cole, originally from Warren, couldn’t believe Alexander decided to kick the ball with the game in the balance.
But, like all good wingers, he was more than happy to jump on the spoils.
“As I said to the boys after the game, it was probably one of the best wins I’ve had in a long time with any team,” the former Manly Marlins winger said.
“I can’t really explain what it was like afterwards, but to get the win was special.”
Alexander’s reasoning for the deft right foot grubber kick is pretty simple.
“They were rushing up on me pretty quickly,” Alexander said.
“It could have gone either way ... I could be playing second or third grade this week if he didn’t score.
“It was a bit of a flash. It just all came together which was lucky.”
But, even minus 11 premiership players from the club’s 2013 side, Orange City’s success is far to frequent for any of it to be deemed lucky.
Ahead of Saturday’s first Blowes Clothing Cup match at Pride Park for 2014, Alexander believes it’ll take the same “tough, hard rugby” Orange City called on last week to get over the top of Dubbo Roos.
“We’ll probably be a bit fitter this week too, that’ll help. I’ve got no doubt they’ll be tough especially because they’ve got a couple of boys from Narromine,” Alexander said.
City hosts the Roos at Pride Park on Saturday from 3.15pm.
ORANGE CITY: 1 Scott Smith, 2 Chris Senior, 3 Josh Tremain, 4, Chris Barrett, 5 Josh Maley, 6 Steve Levitt, 7 Billy Freeman, 8 Duncan Young, 9 Tom Nell, 10 Mesui Lemoto, 11 Cameron Cole, 12 Tatafu Na’aniumotu, 13 Jackson Coote, 14 Joe Alexander, 15 Sam Dwyer.
DUBBO ROOS: 1 Enoch To’Ofohe, 2 Pete Nau (c), 3 Tim Cullenward, 4 John Korff, 5 Simon Hegarty, 6 Brad Pugh, 7 Ned Williams, 8 Shaun McHugh, 9 Wade Richardson, 10 Ted Bates, 11 James Mata, 12 Max Ma’a Nelson, 13 Filisone Pauta, 14 Vince Williams, 15 Scott Burgess.
