A LAST-gasp try to replacement Sione Amone secured Orange City three important things on Saturday: a 22-17 win over Dubbo Kangaroos, a four-try bonus point and, most importantly, a guaranteed spot in this season’s Blowes Clothing Cup semi-finals.
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Coming into the Pride Park clash the only thing shakier than the Lions’ recent form was their grasp on a top-five slot, with Bathurst Bulldogs and Cowra Eagles breathing down their necks in the race for fourth and fifth positions on the ladder.
But the dramatic four-tries-to-three victory over third-placed Roos ensured they will feature in this year’s finals, regardless of the result of next weekend’s derby at Endeavour Oval.
Coach Steve Hamson paid tribute to his side’s tenacity in the face of such do-or-die pressure, admitting “we were under the pump”.
“If we lost today next week against Emus was probably a must-win game and you don't want that hanging over your head.”
Roos coach Dan Armitage was both gracious in defeat and determined to focus on the critical games in the coming month.
“All in all it was a pretty good game,” he said.
“They [Orange City] were good while we probably didn't play quite how we wanted to.
“But I can't knock the effort from our guys.”
With so much on the line Hamson would have been concerned to see Roos start the better, opening the scoring in just the second minute via a try to winger Isaac Kinscher.
The hosts struck back when ten minutes later Duncan Young scampered over from close range before converting his own try.
The first stanza see-sawed as Roos again gained the ascendancy via Kinscher’s second before his opposite number Taylor Smith struck in the shadows of half time to see the Lions up 12-10 at the break.
Smith extended his side’s advantage soon after the resumption, showing speed and poise to scoot over out wide.
But with ten minutes left to play Roos No.8 Brad Pugh toed a loose ball ahead and, pursued by a horde of Lions backs every inch of the way, won the 40-metre chase to score.
When halfback Luke McConochie slotted the sideline conversion the score was locked up at 17-all.
But Hamson’s men held their nerve, with Amone latching onto the end of some superb offloads and support play to secure the all-important five competition points.
Hamson confessed the differences between Saturday’s win and tight loses to Cowra and Forbes Platypi in previous weeks were subtle but important.
“We haven't been far away,” he said.
“A few unlucky decisions in Forbes, we made some poor decisions in Cowra but fortunately enough today it didn't hurt us and we were good enough in the end.
“In the past few weeks when we've got into those situations we would have panicked and looked for a miracle play. This week they've learned.”
