Orange A, 19-time consecutive champions, and Dubbo were the two standout teams from the opening rounds on Sunday, both going through the first three games of the competition undefeated.

Orange’s top side - boasting a youthful exuberance with the selection of several new faces - demolished Cowra 62-12 in the opening game of its 2015 campaign.

The young Orange team backed it up with a second consecutive thumping, this time trouncing Bathurst A 75-25 before rounding out a successful opening day by defeating Orange B 75-25.

Dubbo also claimed three easy, but not quite as convincing, victories over Bathurst A (47-27), Orange B (62-22) and Bathurst B (55-30).

“We were very happy with it, we were trying out some new combinations and just trying to sort out our starting seven a bit,” Orange A coach Em Callaway said. “But the girls all played very well. The young players especially. Brooke [Burcher], Katie [Eslick] and Brigette Jasprizza all did very well.

“Our match fitness wasn’t where it normally is, but every team was the same. It comes with moving the competition to the pre-season.”

Callaway highlighted young gun Lauren Williams, 21, as particularly strong in the three wins.

“Jacky [Lyden, co-coach] and I spoke about it after the game, we’ve noticed a lot of growth in Lauren’s maturity on and off the court, and her ability to read the game,” Callaway said.

“She’s always had plenty of ability but has come a long way in that sense, she was particularly good.”

Orange and Dubbo fought it out for last year’s title, with the latter producing a shock upset over Orange during the preliminary rounds before succumbing to the perennial champions in the final.

Sunday’s play sets up a juicy final group match between the two sides on Sunday, March 22, in which they will reignite the relatively new rivalry.

“We’re really looking forward to it actually,” Callaway said.

“The girls are all really keen to test themselves and see where we are against them.”

Orange’s under-17 and under-15 teams - actually Orange’s State Age under-15 and under-14 units respectively - also enjoyed strong opening rounds, with both sides going through the day undefeated.

The former won out over Bathurst (30-27), Cowra (31-21) and Blayney (30-24), while the latter defeated Lithgow (45-12), Condobolin (24-18) and Cowra (23-22).