It was everything you would expect from a major semi-final. The Dubbo Kangaroos, the side which has been the best all year, took on the two-time defending champs City and it was top quality, bruising, edge of your seat stuff for the entire 80 minutes.
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But when the final whistle blew it was the Roos who advanced to the grand final after scoring three tries to one in a 20-19 victory.
The win was built on defence as Orange City battered the Dubbo line for long periods of the second half but James Mata's sideline conversion inside the final ten minutes after a try to teenage winger Blake Sharpe sealed the win.
Earlier, Dubbo had opened the scoring in just the third minute when Mata went over in the corner following a typical barnstorming run from star centre Filisione Pauta.
Scott Burgess' conversion attempt was unsuccessful and Mesui Lemoto soon had City on the board when he converted a penalty.
Wade Richardson extended Dubbo's lead in the 15th minute after he darted through a gap 10 metres out when there was seemingly nothing on but a pair of Lemoto penalties had score back to 10-9 approaching the break.
One of the highlights of the match came right on halftime as Orange City flanker Duncan Young nailed an incredible penalty from 52 metres out to give City the lead for the first time at 12-9.
Dubbo, led by the likes of Brad Pugh, Max Ma'a Nelson and James Elliot in the forwards, began the second stanza the better and a Burgess penalty had them back in front.
City kicked for touch numerous times when the received penalties and despite the best efforts of the impressive Scott Smith, Jake Davis and Lemoto they couldn't find a way through the Dubbo defence.
After sustained Orange pressure the Roos finally began to work their way out of trouble and some extended time in forward possession led to Sharpe going over in the corner from a metre out.
Mata had no trouble with the conversion and the Roos looked home at 20-12. But a team like City doesn't go away and they set up a grandstand finish when Cameron Cole scored under the posts following a 90 metre break from Lemoto with two minutes to go. But the Roos held the ball in the forwards and hung on, advancing to their first grand final since 2012 and their first at home since 2008.
Full story in Monday's paper.
