EMUS has won a tough, penalty-marred Blowes Clothing Cup Orange derby at Endeavour Oval, the defending premiers proving too strong in the forwards in a 25-17 victory over City.

With 29 penalties blown by referee Richard Madden across the 80 minutes - 18 of those came in the first 40 minutes, while Logan Brockmann and Sema Fafai also received yellow cards - the hosts ran out to a 15-3 advantage before a telling Emus try immediately after half-time proved the difference.

After Scott McLean pounced on Emus' own kick-off, Simon Badgery barged his way over two phases later to shoot the hosts out to a 22-3 lead 30 seconds into the new term.

City rallied through tries to Duncan Young and the returning Tatafu Na'aniumotu, but ultimately fell short of a win as well as failing to secure a bonus point late in the contest after twice falling short of the try-line after last-ditch attempts by Keegan Harding and Taylor Smith came up short of crucial points.

Victorious coach Paul Ringland was thrilled with the win, his side's grittiest of the winter to date.

"All the derbies are pretty hard. They're pretty intense and they always go for 80 minutes," Ringland said.

"Scoring straight after half-time was probably the worst thing for us. We kind of relaxed at a time we probably needed to ramp it up.

"Other than that I thought we did the simple things well across the full 80.

"Any time you beat Orange City you know you've played well."

Lions head coach Steve Hamson lamented his side's inability to warm into the contest until mid-way through the second-half, with Orange City's best period of play coming after Young scored his side's first try in the 47th minute.

"Good at the end ... but the start, we've prided ourselves on our D and that episode just after half-time, where they took the kick-off, ran through us and scored, that hurt massively at the end," Hamson said.

"You can't wait for 60 minutes and decide to get into the game."

He believes the threat of a blow-out jolted the Lions into life.

"It was looming to be quite embarrassing. And they're a proud group. I think if they hadn't of tucked in Emus put 40 on us. We've always had good resolve, I just think they got together and said we better get moving," Hamson added.

Emus built early dominance on the back of their monster scrum.

It resulted in a throng of penalties, with Brockmann receiving his yellow card for collapsing a second consecutive scrum.

Emus immediately made the most of the extra man with AJ Sykes slicing through to score while 15 minutes later, against a full compliment of Lions, prop Steve Fergus plucked the ball off the back of the ruck to score untouched next to the posts and hand the hosts a 12-3 lead - City's points coming from the right boot of Harding.

Nigel Staniforth landed his own penalty goal right on half-time before, at the resumption of play, Badgery's try threatened the flood gates only for City to click into gear and etch as close as eight points.

Earlier, Fafai was handed a yellow card for repeat infringements at the breakdown while Emu Lachie Harris copped a yellow card late for a challenge on Barton Young in the air.

ORANGE EMUS 25 (Steve Fergus, Simon Badgery, AJ Sykes tries; Nigel Staniforth 2 conv, 2 pen goals) def ORANGE CITY 17 (Tatafu Na'aniumotu, Duncan Young tries; Keegan Harding 2 conv, pen goal)