RUGBY UNION
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HE'S big, he's scary, he's a former international and in an ominous sign for every other Blowes Clothing Cup team, gargantuan Orange City No.8 Tatafu Na'aniumotu is hitting his straps.
The former Tongan international churned out a third consecutive man-of-the-match performance for the Lions on Saturday, inspiring his side to a 31-15 victory over the struggling, but spirited Forbes Platypi.
As he did against Parkes Boars two weeks ago and Dubbo Kangaroos last weekend, Na'aniumotu proved nigh on unstoppable with the ball, regularly blowing Forbes' defensive line to smithereens in an irresistible showing of strength in contact.
"The fitter he gets the better he gets," Orange City co-coach Mick Gray said.
"He's so strong with the ball, and he had another really good game against Forbes. I'd much prefer to be playing with him than against him."
Gray also highlighted winger Tom Fisher as a standout in the victory, which didn't come easy for the table-topping Lions, who are now eight points clear of second placed Orange Emus.
Running into monsoonal winds at Grinsted Oval, Orange City still managed to cross the stripe twice in opening period to lead the Platypi 12-10 at half-time.
"We battled away though and managed to score a couple of tries, then we skipped away a bit early in the second half," Gray said.
"They came back at us though. I really think the fitness came out again."
As they have against so many sides already this year, Orange City piled on the points in the final exchanges of the clash - in fact they won the second half 19-5.
Gray commended his side, and said the victory was born from the Lions "just doing what we do".
"The boys played pretty well," he said.
"Our scrum held up and our line-out was good. It was the same story really, we just did what we've done to other sides.
"Our ball movement was the key and outlasted Forbes in terms of fitness, that lets us score points. We're pretty happy to have got the bonus point win.
"To be honest we're just glad to have got the points and got out of there, it's not easy playing in rugby in Forbes. It presents a tough prospect.
"They're tough, the crowd gets behind them, but it was a good win."
ORANGE CITY LIONS 31 def FORBES PLATYPI 15