THERE would have been some sore bodies on Sunday after Saturday’s bruising Blowes Clothing Cup match between Orange City Lions and Parkes Boars.
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It was a physical clash at Pride Park where the Lions were able to use their speed out wide to score a 31-5 victory.
Orange City captain Gus Brotherton was happy to get the win, but admitted it wasn’t his side’s finest performance.
“It was a bit scrappy to begin with, well the whole 80 minutes really,” Brotherton said.
“We didn’t stick to our structure but we still got the win which is always good.”
The Lions were dangerous out wide, but it was a rolling maul in the game’s 11th minute which allowed second rower Chris Barrett to put the first points on the board for the home side, which Mesui Lemoto converted.
The Lions were held up in the 20th minute before Nick Quinn swooped on a Parkes knock-on six minutes later, 20 metres out from the Boars’ line, and offloaded to flanker Duncan Young who dived over in the left corner.
It was 19-0 four minutes later when Lemoto put up a perfectly weighted kick and winger Sam Powell won the footrace to score in the left corner.
Lemoto’s conversion was his second from three attempts in the first half, while Parkes five-eighth Mahe Fangupo missed two shots at penalty goal in the opening period.
Orange City fullback Sam Dwyer exposed the Parkes defence out wide seven minutes into the second half when he sprinted through a gap to score and push his side to 24-0.
Parkes dominated the scrums and their efforts were rewarded in the 58th minute when they won against the feed, 30 metres out from the Lions’ line, and spread the ball left to put winger Nathan Langi Langi over in the corner.
However the Lions had the final say when replacement fullback Mitch Green skipped through a gap to score, and Lemoto added the extras.
Parkes coach Trevor Whittaker was happy with this team’s performance, especially after four colts players had to back up for the top grade, including Langi Langi.
“In general I was very happy with everybody,” Whittaker said.
“Everybody stood up and had a good game, even though the scoreline says differently, but they (Lions) scored some easy tries, but I think we kept them out on the tough ones.”
It was no surprise the Parkes coach was happy with his side’s scrum.
“That’s probably one of our strongest points is our scrum and hopefully we will still continue with that with momentum going forward,” he said.
Brotherton said his teammates knows they have to play to their strengths, especially against the bigger sides like Parkes.
“We’ve got the smaller side so we’re banking on our fitness and speed out wide. We’ve just got to keep digging in the forwards as best we can,” Brotherton said.
Brotherton was impressed with the Lions’ backs and said they were well led by Lemoto.
Whittaker praised the effort of halfback James Dean and five-eighth Fangupo, but was impressed with his entire team.
“I think everyone deserved a point because they all stood up today which was very pleasing,” Whittaker smiled.
ORANGE CITY LIONS 31 (Chris Barrett, Duncan Young, Sam Powell, Sam Dwyer, Mitch Green tries; Mesui Lemoto 3 conv) def PARKES BOARS 5 (Nathan Langi Langi try).
