Emus were outclassed after under-estimating their Sydney-based rivals' intensity in last year's edition but with a younger, more-mobile outfit they flipped the script on Knox in Saturday night's return clash, dubbed the second Test.

Although Knox led 12-7 at half-time the greens - or blacks on this occasion, considering their one-off strips - had the better of their rivals heading into the dying stages after Carter Hirini gave the home side a 19-12 lead with his third try of the night.

With just 11 minutes left on the clock it looked as though that five-pointer, scored from a pulsating chip and chase, might prove the match-winner.

But Knox, not accustomed to losing a trophy they've had taken away just once in the its eight-year history, cut the gap to two with Andrew Yeung's second try, and Hamish Bayliss' resulting conversion set up a grandstand finish at 19-all with just six minutes remaining.

The Sydney-based side lifted again as Emus, with a big chunk of players backing up from the club's Blowes Clothing Cup derby against Orange City, faded slightly, and had one last opportunity to snatch the victory when they were awarded a penalty with next to no time remaining.

They took that chance, with Creeley crossing next to the uprights to give Bayliss an easy kick, which he nailed to secure Knox's 26-19 victory.

Of course the exhibition clash was once again the focal point of the BrothersIVBrothers fundraising effort for cancer care in Orange and the Central West region, but there was no denying how much a victory meant to both sides.

"Obviously there's a much bigger picture in mind but we definitely came out here to win again, there's no doubt Emus were playing to win too, that was brutal. Last year was physical, but that was a whole new level," Knox prop and BrothersIVBrothers co-founder Bryn Robertson said.

"That was a serious Emus team, there's going to be a lot of very sore bodies [on Sunday] morning. I actually thought it might end up a draw the way it was heading but we just got there in the end."

"We almost had them,I thought we were going to get them," Emus manager and fullback Graydon Staniforth added.

"We were completely shell-shocked last year and it made us realise this game's taken very seriously and it's not just hit-and-giggle. Obviously it's about more than just rugby but we knew we needed to field a younger, more-mobile side and give these blokes a real show.

"We got close, but couldn't quite get there. I think if we'd won the boys would definitely have come back next for a decider, they're not sure what they'll do yet but we're definitely hopeful they'll come back again."

The bumper crowd on hand flooded into Endeavour Oval's clubhouse for the after-game function, Rock For A Cure, during which BrothersIVBrothers held a number of auctions and raffles in their bid to hit their fundraising goal of $65,000 for the weekend.

At time of publication they were edging closer toward that, with Robertson saying initial estimates were around the $60,000 mark and the final tally would be confirmed on Monday.

With last year included that takes the BrothersIVBrothers' total tally to well above $100,000 in Orange alone, with every cent of that being split between Western Care Lodge and Orange hospitals clinical trial program.

"Like I said before the game it's great to be able to play some rugby and bash ... each other for an hour or so, but it's really about sucking the marrow out and living life to the fullest and then, of course, raising some much-needed funds for cancer care in the Central West," Robertson said.

"We've raised a lot again this year too, we'll be up around or above the $60,000 mark I think, and we're very proud to have been able to come back and do that."

"That's the main thing, definitely. It's something everyone at Emus is very proud to be a part of, it's such a great cause and it's wonderful to see the funds raised making a positive impact in our community," Staniforth added.