DESPITE Orange Tigers coach Nathan Pearce’s modesty, his troops have undoubtedly rediscovered their mojo.
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A 36-point win over rivals Bathurst Bushrangers three weeks ago acted as a catalyst for the Tigers, who have produced two stunning Central West AFL performances since.
Scoring a combined 415 points and conceding just 26 in the last two weeks, Orange has demolished Dubbo Demons and Young Saints by 201 and 188 points respectively.
Making the scores more impressive, both games were away from home.
“We’re getting there,” Pearce said.
“I’m definitely happy to be winning football games, and there is plenty of encouraging signs but I think knowing the potential we have in our side, we can go a lot further than what we are.
“I’m a bit harder on them than I have been before but I think that is because I know we can play better football than we have been.
“It’s always nice to get a [188] point win, and we’ll take it, but I wouldn’t call it an outstanding performance.”
After heading to Young’s Burrangong Oval expecting “a hard game”, the Tigers put on a clinic, slotting 29 majors to the Saints’ two.
Dale Hunter and Tim Barry were the best of the Orange sharp shooters kicking six majors apiece, while Murray Robotham celebrated his 150th senior game with five, backing up his 10-goal haul from the previous weekend.
Orange all but wrapped up the game in the first half, heading into the break with an unassailable 95-point lead before ramming home the advantage in the third and fourth quarters.
The Tigers kicked 10 goals in the third period, and five more in the fourth to secure the 188-point victory.
Despite the gargantuan nature of the win, Pearce said his side still has plenty to improve - particularly kicking straight.
“When you get that far in front players tend to get a bit selfish, a bit goal hungry,” Pearce said.
“We crept forward and crowded the forward line and started taking shots from 40 out, when we could have hit someone 20 out, which led to a lot of those behinds.
“In saying that, there was plenty of good too.
“Our transition from halfback was great, and we played well to get so far in front.
“We can still improve, and will need to before we play Cowra and Bathurst again.”
ORANGE TIGERS 29.27 (201) def YOUNG SAINTS 2.1 (13)
