Ringland and Emus co-coach Graydon Staniforth were left frustrated by a side that "just didn't turn up ready to play", with the hosts left hustled and often disjointed as a result of a CSU outfit that came to Orange with a point to prove after being severely out-muscled by Cowra in the 2015 opening round.

The scoreboard will suggest the students failed.

But the seven-tries-to-one result isn't one Ringland will be recalling fondly later in the season, not after CSU out-enthused Emus on home soil.

"Our warm up wasn't great, our week at training wasn't great and I think it showed in the game," Ringland said afterwards.

There's no doubting the men in charge of Emus are demanding more from a side that's tipped to press for back-to-back grand final places in 2015.

"There were patches of the game where we were putting the game plan together," Ringland continued.

"And our effort was there, we got the points, but for large chunks of it our intensity wasn't there and a good CSU side showed us our frailties."

The beginning of the match was willing, with both sides showing their hand by swinging the ball wide early on in the first half.

The game's first points, though, came up the guts, with Emus halfback Chris Mead diving over from close range to chalk up the first five-pointer of the clash under the sticks.

Nigel Staniforth slotted the extras, and the hosts led 7-0.

It didn't deter the students though.

Led brilliantly by barnstorming inside centre Blake Ridges, CSU made metres through the Emus mid-field and earned a shot at three points on the back of some solid work at the ruck by breakdown pest Michael Thompson.

Cam Backhouse missed the penalty shot however, and for all of their efforts, the students' willing attack turned into desperate defence as Emus strung together an enterprising series of passes to go from one end of the field to the other, Staniforth scoring in the corner to shoot the lead out to 12 points.

The flood gates threatened to spill open from that point, with Staniforth quickly bagging a brace before Adam Perri out-sprinted James Toothe to the try-line for Emus fourth five-pointer.

Emus went into the sheds up 24-0 at half-time - it should have been anything from there.

But, in very positive signs for CSU coach James McLaren, the students didn't wilt.

Enthusiastic and tough, CSU played to its strengths by getting up in the face of the Emus attack, forcing the highly touted greens backline to cough up possession enough times to thoroughly test the famed addition skills of Count von Count.

As enthralling as it was to watch, it didn't amount to much in terms of scoreboard pressure for the Bathurst club.

Emus still managed five pointers through Rob Thorburn, Tom Goolagong and Tom Green in the second period, while CSU didn't leave Endeavour Oval empty handed, scoring a consolation try in the 70th minute to flying winger Mike Holt.

As strange as it sounds, McLaren was the happiest coach at Endeavour Oval after the match.

"We were always going to be up against it up here," McLaren said.

"I remember the game up here last year, there was probably a little bit more mud on the ground, but it was embarrassing, we just didn't perform at all.

"This year, it's rough numbers on the scoreboard, we haven't had long together but I'm very proud of the way the guys worked hard in the ruck for 80 minutes.

"We've been quite underdone coming into the season, but very positive for the boys."

Admitting CSU hustled Emus and forced the home side to go sideways in attack, Ringland said his side's challenge will remain lifting in games they're expected to win.

"Looking at the results, there's not going to be any easy games," he added.

"Everyone is going to be tough. The big challenge for us is turning up ready every week.

"(Next week in Parkes), it's another one of those tough ones ... we're expected to win but you're not going to get anything easy in Parkes on Anzac Day, we know that. We have to prepare."

ORANGE EMUS 41 (Nigel Staniforth 2, Chris Mead, Adam Perri, Rob Thorburn, Tom Goolagong, Tom Green tries; Nigel Staniforth 3 conv) def CSU BATHURST 5 (Mike Holt try).