ORANGE Emus did things the hard way all through the finals series and again in Saturday's grand final but it didn't stop them from being crowned 2014 second grade premiers.
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Emus got the better of cross-town rivals Orange City 20-11 in an intense decider punctuated by several flare-ups.
After qualifying for the finals in fourth place, Emus navigated their way through a month of sudden-death football and again found themselves behind the eight-ball when they trailed 11-0 in the first half after a pair of penalty goals to City's Jackson Coote were followed by a try to back-rower Chris Scoines.
But a penalty goal to David Faul just prior to half-time got them into the contest and they carried the momentum into the second half as Chris Bailey and Scott Udy scored to put them up 15-11 heading into the dying stages of the match.
A contentious decision not to send Emus reserve Lachlan Harris to the sin-bin for a late high shot on City winger Barton Young was magnified when the Lions turned over possession and Emus marched down field and scored the match-winner through Feleti Fosio.
"It was a tough game today but we can't complain about the result," Emus coach Mitch Dansey said.
VIDEO: What Brad Cleal and Mitch Dansey had to say after full time:
"We probably defended for 90 per cent of the first half and it was a credit to the guys how they composed themselves.
"We knew if we got some pill we could get ourselves into the game, and we did that. We got the ball, plugged the corners and converted it into points."
City captain-coach Brad Cleal praised his side's rivals, admitting they deserved the title.
"It's always hard to cop losing a grand final, especially to a home town rival....but all respect to them, they deserved to win," Cleal said.
"They out-enthused us and we made too many silly mistakes.
"We had a run of penalties in the first half and definitely had our chances and they seemed to have it in the second half. Our discipline changed and it cost us."
ORANGE EMUS 20 (Chris Bailey, Scott Udy, Feleti Fosio tries; David Faul 1 conv, 1 pen) def ORANGE CITY LIONS 11 (Chris Scoines try; Jackson Coote 2 pens).
