Home sweet home for Lions

THERE was no prouder man at Pride Park last Saturday than Orange City president Steve Stone.

The jubilation shared amongst the players and fans following the Lions' 29-18 major semi-final win over Dubbo Roos to book the Blowes Clothing Cup grand finals was a memorable sight on a big day for the proud Orange City club.

For it all to be played out at home was the big thing.

For Stone, to see the fruits of the labour he and the hard-working committee at senior and junior levels put in to get the Pride Park ground up to Central West Rugby Union standards was the most pleasing thing.

"It was one of my proudest moments being a president of the club," Stone said.

"It's not all about winning, but when you see that success start to develop from the hard work that's done by the coaches and the players that have been there, you look at the 'Blockers' (Josh Tremain) who have been there and the passion they have - that's what it's about."

A lot of work has gone into the ground.

Notoriously known as 'hypothermia hill', the grand stand at Pride Park now has a shelter over the top of it to protect its spectators from the brutally harsh elements on a cold winters day.

And as per the request of the CWRU, the ground now has a perimeter fence to help secure the venue.

They might seem minimal changes but they're vital to keep the home of the Lions up to speed with the rest of the rugby grounds in the Central West, with the once boggy playing field now one of the better drained in the region.

And Orange City isn't done with just fences and sheds.

"It's not complete, it's something that's a work in progress as well and it depends on funding," Stone said.

"The ground itself, we've spent a lot of money on the ground with drainage. About three years ago we had to mop all of the water off the ground. I remember that, then it just kept seeping up.

"It's perfect (now). You couldn't complain about the ground I don't think.

"It's been a work in progress and I think Central West appreciate where we're coming from, what we've done and how we've put it together."

The club is currently in its 10th year at the ground and there wouldn't be a better way to celebrate the milestone than to qualify all four grades in grand finals.

First grade and second grade are through.

The focus now turns to third grade and colts, who both play tomorrow at Dubbo's Victoria Park in the CWRU's preliminary finals.

If all four make it, it'd be the second time the club has achieved the feat in more than two decades.

"That'd be amazing," Stone said.

"That happened in 1991, I was playing at that time and experienced a grand final win at Bathurst. We won first, seconds, thirds and colts; I don't think that's been done again. We won them all. It'd be very special if we could have them all here next weekend for that same opportunity.

"It'd be amazing."