Despite it being an under 20s competition, Orange went in with quite the young side, made up mostly of under 16s.

It wasn't the start to the group stage that the Thunder had hoped for as they lost their first game to Macksville.

But they weren't about to pack it up and go home and strung together four wins in a row to finish sixth heading into the knockout part of the competition.

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Despite their low seed, the squad managed to win through to the grand final, where they would play Manly for the title.

"In the quarter final we were down 4-2 and came back to win 5-4," team coach Glen Prestwidge said.

"Then we beat UNSW in a drop-off.

"Manly is a powerhouse in NSW and stocked with eight current NSW players and two Aussie players."

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He knew it would be a tough task ahead of them, but had every belief that the ladies could pull it off.

"I knew the girls were capable if they stuck to their guns," Prestwidge added.

"There's always some nerves, but they handled it well."

So into the game they went, but quickly conceded the game's opening try.

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Eleven minutes had elapsed before Orange were able to level things up. Now with 14 minutes left to play, it was anyone's to take.

There was some back and forth between the two sides, before the Thunder stormed home 4-1 winners with the player of the match going to Orange's Sophie Banks.

"The girls were pumped," Prestwidge said of the scenes after the victory.

"It was a big win for the girls and the club.

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"It was the first time the club has won a senior state cup in any division and the girls played really well."

As well as the team on the park, he said the support from those off it was also vital, shouting out Michelle Prestwidge, Phil Mooney and Bret Mendham in particular.

Now hot off their victory, the girls will look to prepare for the junior competition.

"The majority are going to the Junior State Cup which is under 18s, there are only three from the winning squad that won't be there," the coach said.

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"The girls will put their head down at training and continue to go really well."

It wasn't just the players who came away the big winners on the weekend though.

Amy Draper, Amanda Draper and Rebecca Rogers all refereed grand finals during the State Cup.

This earned them a big congratulations from their club on a job well done.

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The Junior State Cup, for which the majority of this Orange side will be eligible for, is the premier NSW Touch Football junior representative event.

Each year it is conducted in late February in Port Macquarie (Northern Conference) and Wagga Wagga (Southern Conference) with the State Final to determine State Champions.

The Southern Conference tournament for which Orange will compete at, will take place from Friday, February 26 to Sunday, February 28 at Jubilee Park & Conolly Park in Wagga Wagga.

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