Our turn to win one: Cleal

ORANGE City took out the Blowes Clothing Cup second grade minor premiership but there is one team which has been a thorn in their side.

Bathurst Bulldogs finished the regular season second on the competition ladder but have beaten the Lions twice.

Orange City coach Brad Cleal said Bulldogs are strong in the forwards while the Lions’ backs are slick.

“We haven’t beaten them all year. They’re the only team we haven’t beaten. It’ll be a pretty close game,” Cleal said.

“They’re a really good forward side.

“We’re a very open-style team. We’ve got good forwards and we’ve got real good backs. If we get a dry day, I’m confident we’ll take it out.”

The rivalry between the two sides extends beyond this season.

The two met in the 2011 second grade grand final where Bathurst came out on top 20-12.

This year Bathurst took out their round eight encounter 23-15.

The Bulldogs backed it up with a tight 17-15 victory in their round 17 clash.

“We’ve lost to them three games in a row now. I think we’re due to beat them,” Cleal laughed.

It was only points difference which separated the two teams during the regular season this year.

They both recorded 15 wins and three losses from 18 games and finished with 71 points.

City’s points difference of 429 gave them the minor premiership over Bathurst (340).

Working in City’s favour is all the players have had a run in first grade this season.

Cleal is also happy to be playing at home, Pride Park.

“I think there’s less pressure because we’re at home,” he said.

“Last year we had to come from fifth and we played away from home every week. It makes a bit difference playing at home.”

Tomorrow’s second grade major semi-final will kick-off at 1.30pm at Pride Park.

ORANGE CITY: 1 Glenn Atkinson, 2 Chris Senior, 3 James Sheridan, 4 Zac Johnson, 5 Adam Grant, 6 Nathan Wilcox, 7 Keith Andrews, 8 Adam Harrison, 9 Anthony Kent, 10 Baden Curran, 11 Taylor Smith, 12 Nathan Zinga, 13 Ben Mills, 14 Anthony Salmon, 15 Sam Coote.