VITAL COG: Ben Parkes is winning Orange Emus crucial ball in the lineout, which is helping the team set up for rolling mauls in attacking position.
ORANGE Emus are bringing back the rolling maul.
The Greens are working on the set piece move and it’s paying dividends.
In the last two weeks they’ve scored three tries from the craft.
Both of their five-pointers in their 17-0 win over defending premiers Parkes in round three came from the rolling maul, while in last weekend’s 23-20 win over Dubbo Roos flanker Dan Brown peeled off the side of a maul to score a crucial try.
It’s a move Emus coach Paul Ringland believes is underutilised in the Blowes Clothing Cup.
“It’s something we’ve worked on hard and it’s a really good weapon in rugby now,” Ringland said after Saturday’s three-point win.
“Defences are getting so much better in general play so you’ve got to find ways to get points on the board and it’s a good one.
“We’re very happy.”
What made the Emus coach even happier was the way his side hung on to win.
Dubbo stormed home and threatened to steal the win but the home side held on to claim the points.
“When I arrived at the club we could never win those games so, to the boys’ credit, they’ve turned that around and are now able to close games out which is really pleasing,” he said.
Emus’ victory over Dubbo was their third win of the season.
Across town Orange City have started their 2012 in equally impressive fashion.
The Lions are undefeated through four rounds of the Central West Rugby Union competition and sit in second place on the 2012 ladder behind Narromine. Emus are fourth.
It’s in stark contrast to this time last season, where both Emus and the Lions had won just one game between them in the opening month of the season to sit ninth and 10th respectively on the ladder.
