On the receiving end of the kind of ambush the Leichhardt Oval faithful would be proud of, Orange City had no answer to a rampant Dubbo as the Roos raced to a 33-0 lead after 40 minutes to effectively put a halt to a 39-game unbeaten run in one foul swoop.

It’s the first time Orange City has tasted defeat since September 2011 when the Boars knocked over the Lions 20-13 in a preliminary final bout at Northparkes Oval.

Here’s some of the numbers that defined the club’s historic run that netted two minor premierships and two Blowes Clothing Cup titles in succession:

- 38 wins, one draw, no losses.

- 1240 points scored at an average just under 32 points per game.

- 455 points against at a miserly average of 11.6 points per game.

- 155 competition points accrued including 21 bonus points.

But with all of those stats now resigned to the history books, it’s time to start all over again.

And last Saturday’s loss is far from the end of the world for the Lions.

In many ways, it’s probably a slight weight off the team’s shoulders.

Sure, the Lions’ start to the 2014 season has been very un-Orange City like - a proud defensive unit throughout 2012 and 2013, they’ve conceded 63 points in the opening two games of this season while crossing for five tries.

But Orange City will bounce back in a big way sooner rather than later.

After the Easter break the club will tackle tough trips to Mudgee and Forbes while hosting Narromine and the unbeaten Cowra at Pride Park and it’d take a brave man to bet against them in all four of those contests.

With a point to prove, there can be little doubt coaches Steve Hamson and Mick Gray will have taken the big loss against the Roos and used it to focus the Lions now on deck to try and help the club to three-straight Blowes Clothing Cups.

It’s a saying as old as the hills, but winning becomes a habit.

And Orange City isn’t ready to kick that habit just yet.