He scored a try, kicked beautifully and was just one of Eastern Suburbs' best in general in Saturday's Beach to Bush Intrust Super Shute Shield Regional Round but even so, it was a bittersweet homecoming for Orange's Dan Donato at Wade Park.
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Donato's Beasties suffered a convincing and somewhat surprising 42-22 loss to a resurgent Gordon outfit, the Highlanders proving far too strong at the set-piece and producing what coach Darren Coleman called "pretty close to a complete performance".
That naturally took some of the gloss off the Orange City junior's return although he did still relish the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd, doing so for the first time in half a decade.
Mum and dad try and come down to Sydney but the cousins and grandparents [were all at Wade Park], it's really good for them to come out.
- Eastern Suburbs' Orange product Dan Donato
"It was my first game back in Orange for five or six years now," Donato said, having played in the Beasties' lower grade sides while their first XV made their last two annual trips over the Blue Mountains.
"It was really good, I love coming home and Orange always puts on a really good outing. Wade Park's an unreal ground, although it's a pity we couldn't get the win."
Having earned his stripes in those lower grades Donato is in his first full season in the Beasties' top flight side and Saturday's round nine clash was his first start at his favoured position of fullback, he's spent the season's early stages on the wing.
In the lead-up to Saturday fellow Lions junior Jack Grant said Donato had been one of his side's best in those early stages and the winger-come-custodian proved why on Saturday.
He was hard to miss considering his fluorescent red boots, but more so in terms of his performance. Donato was busy, going looking for plenty of work, and kicked beautifully in general play and from the tee.
It's "always good scoring a try" he said, but was disappointed his side took 30 minutes to click into gear, that period allowing the Highlanders to assert their dominance on the nominal home side and the scoreboard too.
Donato was among a swag of Orange products in the Beasties' top grade side, their affinity with the Central West region is no secret, and said he, Grant, Cudal's Archie Hall, Ryan McCauley and former Kinross first XV skipper Cody Walker once again relished the opportunity.
The same goes for Ned Yeomans and Bailey Hilder, more Kinross products, who were in East's second grade Colin Caird Shield side, which also went down to Gordon at Wade Park.
In fact the Beasties' Orange connection accounted for all 22 points on Saturday, along with Donato's try, brace of conversions and penalty goal Grant scored Easts' two other five-pointers.
"We're all (always) keen for it, it's the round we tick off on the calendar and all try and get up for it," Donato said.
"All my family [was at Wade Park] and I love seeing them. Mum and dad try and come down to Sydney but the cousins and grandparents [were all at Wade Park], it's really good for them to come out and watch Shute Shield footy."
Donato said his side is well aware of the importance of the annual trip, Saturday's was the third edition, but said it's also encouraging to see more of the competition's sides take games to the country, with Sydney University playing Eastwood at Mudgee earlier this year.
"Grassroots footy is up and coming and there's lots of talent out here ... it's good to bring it out here," he said.
Eastern Suburbs' bounce back bid won't be easy this weekend, Donato and his Beasties face the second-placed Northern Suburbs at North Sydney Oval on Saturday afternoon.
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