After the full-time whistle at Pride Park on Saturday, Viv Paasi and Tom Macleay both lamented sluggish, injury-riddled starts to their sides' 2019 Blowes Clothing Cup campaigns.
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But Macleay was able to do so through a winning smile after Forbes' drought-breaking 31-21 victory over Orange City.
As a result the Platypi leapfrog the Lions in the Central West Rugby Union's top-tier standings, and renders Saturday's hosts the competition's only winless side after four rounds.
The visitors established a commanding 26-7 lead at half-time, and it was an advantage that was never seriously in jeopardy, with a brace from boom recruit Vili Kaufusi and further five-pointers to Josh Coulthurst, Mahe Fangupo and Adrian Cole proving more than enough to secure the bonus-point win.
The final scoreline perhaps flattered Orange City, who trimmed the margin of victory in the game's final moments courtesy of a try to back-rower Duncan Young and one of fullback Keegan Harding's three conversions.
VIDEO: Orange City's Keegan Harding lands a conversion ...
Paasi said the litany of injuries hampering his side - including the one which forced five-eighth Cameron Cole from the field on Saturday - explained their slow start to the season, but didn't necessarily excuse it.
"They're all first-grade footballers, so hopefully it won't take long to put a winning performance together," Paasi said.
"We had a few changes again this week, and blooded another debutant from colts. There's been lots of changes, lots of injuries.
"The effort that these guys put in, and attitude, is never questionable, but it's probably that lack of consistency that hurts."
When we switch off it's for four or five minutes rather than 30 seconds. It's really letting us down and hurting us.
- Orange City Lions coach Viv Paasi
The Lions junior said while his side's scrum and other set pieces were improving by the week, a lack of 80-minute concentration was costing them victories.
"We score points and then let them in quite easily," he said.
"When we switch off it's for four or five minutes rather than 30 seconds. It's really letting us down and hurting us."
"It's a strong comp, and you have to be up for every minute of every game."
We dug extremely deep - that's what Forbes rugby culture is all about.
- Forbes Platypi's Tom Macleay
Macleay said Saturday's victory was the result of a concerted effort from his side to do just that.
"We've been struggling to put a full-game performance in, but after 60 minutes we were still putting in, still playing the style and tempo we wanted to play," he explained.
"Fatigue did start to tell in the last 20 minutes, but we stuck hard at it and defended extremely well."
"We dug extremely deep - that's what Forbes rugby culture is all about."
Macleay said the Platypi's "difficult start to the year" - three straight losses - had also been a result of injuries, but he was hopeful Saturday's win would prove a turning point in their season.
We've had a few injuries, too, and we've had blokes coming back from injuries who haven't been quite confident enough to step back into first grade football," he said.
"But it's great to get a win, our first of the year, and hopefully we can build from here."
- FORBES PLATYPI 31 (Vili Kaufusi 2, Josh Coulthurst, Mahe Fangupo, Adrian Cole tries; Jarrod Hall 2, Kaufusi conversions) def ORANGE CITY LIONS 21 (Ben Dennis, Duncan Young, one unknown tries; Keegan Harding 3 conversions).
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