NORTH Parkes Oval has never been a happy hunting ground for Orange Emus and flying Parkes winger Marika Koroivui's two-try performance on Saturday ensured the ground remained a bogey field for the greens as the Boars secured a nail-biting 18-17 victory.
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Koroivui's brace inspired his side to its first victory of the 2015 Blowes Clothing Cup season, ultimately secured by a Dan Ryan penalty goal in the dying stages, and the win has already been labelled the upset of the season so far.
Taking on what Emus coach Paul Ringland suggested was "a much stronger Parkes side than previous weeks", the greens had the better of the opening 40 minutes of the clash, taking a 12-10 lead into the half-time break.
Simon Badgery and Tom Goolagong's tries for Emus were matched by Koroivui's brace, with greens skipper Nigel Staniforth's single conversion proving the difference in the opening period.
In a messy second stanza, both sides had multiple chances to add points through penalty goals, but both Staniforth and Ryan's radars went awry thanks to the gale force winds pelting the field.
Sam Standen gave Parkes a 15-12 lead early in the second half before Steve Levett crossed to push Emus back in front, 17-15, with 25 minutes to play.
The score remained the same until Ryan finally found his mark, landing a 40 metre penalty goal to give his side a one point lead, and the win.
"We weren't entirely unhappy with the way we played, Parkes were a very good side," Ringland said.
"Honestly I don't think we were at the standard we maybe thought we were, so this provides a good opportunity for us to go back and work harder during the week to make sure we get to the standard we need to be at."
Ringland refused to blame outside factors for the loss, but said a disrupted lead up to the game did play a part in the result.
"We lost about six players during the week and the lack of cohesion really showed on the field," Ringland said.
"We went away from our patterns and phase play. I think we were seeing space and looking to go there, rather than earning the right to get there. But we certainly can't fault the effort, particularly in the first half.
"Unfortunately in the second half, when the game was there to be won we couldn't produce what we needed to."
PARKES BOARS 18 (Marika Koroivui 2, Sam Standen tries; Warren Lowe conversion, penalty goal, Dan Ryan pen) def ORANGE EMUS 17 (Simon Badgery, Tom Goolagong, Steve Lovett tries; Nigel Staniforth conversion)
