ORANGE City’s Blowes Clothing Cup third grade and colts seasons are still alive after both sides claimed do-or-die victories in Sunday’s elimination finals at Dubbo’s No.1 Oval, over Mudgee Wombats and CSU Bathurst respectively.

Orange City’s third grade unit held off a fast-finishing Wombats side to claim a gritty 19-12 victory, while the Lions cubs came up trumps over the students in a similarly miserly game, winning 18-12.

The victory sets up a local derby third grade minor semi-final at Bathurst’s Ashwood Park this weekend after Orange Emus were beaten 12-6 by Dubbo in the qualifying final on Saturday, while Orange City will take on Parkes Boars in the colts minor final.

“Honestly we’re just happy to still be in it at the moment, it was our first win for a while,” Orange City third grade coach Joe Blunt said.

“We played pretty well, and it was really good to get that kind of win on the road, too.

“We always love playing Emus, and it makes it all the better to be in a final. Knocking them out will be extra motivation for us, we certainly don’t want to be knocked out by them.”

Orange City and Mudgee went into half-time locked up at 7-all in the third grade fixture, trading converted tries in the opening half.

But two tries quickly after half-time, one converted, gave the Lions a 12-point advantage, which was enough to secure the win despite Mudgee coming home strong, scoring a consolation five-pointer on full-time.

“We rolled a few substitutes on towards the end of the game and completely forgot about our own lineout,” Blunt laughed.

“They pinched one on our own line and rolled it in on the bell, but by then we had it wrapped up.”

After the weekend’s games, Saturday’s major semi-finals at Pride Park see Orange City take on Orange Emus in the top grade, the Lions will play Bathurst Bulldogs in second grade and Bulldogs play Dubbo in both third grade and colts.

In Sunday’s other minor semi-finals Bulldogs play Dubbo in first grade while Emus take on Dubbo in second grade.