A POINT-A-MINUTE first half running rugby clinic from Orange Emus was enough for the form side of the Blowes Menswear Cup to record their third straight win on Saturday.
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Emus ran in six first-half tries to put the Parkes Boars to bed in their 59-26 win at Endeavour Oval.
However, on the back of a favourable penalty count and some flimsy Emus’ defence Parkes were able to throw the ball around in the second stanza and finish the game the better team.
Emus’ co-coach Matt Greatbatch was happy to get the win but said the lacklustre performance in the second half was a concern.
“It was a bit disappointing the second half,” Greatbatch said.
“Instead of putting them away I think the Parkes’ boys – they got up and they were the better side in the second half. It is a disappointing way to finish it but I’m pretty happy with the result.”
A trademark of the Emus’ stunning return to form has been the side’s scrum and against Parkes the Greens bullied the Boars at the set piece, allowing No. 8 Keith Howarth to score the opening two tries of the match.
When centre Jaime Kelso took Boars’ winger Mitch Leckie high he was yellow-carded and Parkes were on the board with a penalty try, bringing the score to 14-7 after 20 minutes.
But with two tries to BJ McKenna, a five-pointer to Tom Goolagong and a brilliant running try finished off by TJ Cunynghame, Emus had the match sewn up at 40-7 at the break.
Fresh legs in the second half allowed the home side to immediately pick up where they left off, with tries to replacement half Louis Fardell and captain Al Hattersley but that was about as good as it got for the Greens for the next 30 minutes.
Ill-discipline and poor ball retention allowed Parkes a mountain of possession and they converted their chances with three second-half tries – two to Leckie, who used his speed to get on the outside of his opposite brilliantly.
Greatbatch said the heavy penalty count against his side would be looked at during the week.
ORANGE EMUS 59 (Keith Howarth 2, BJ McKenna 2, Tom Goolagong, TJ Cunynghame, Louis Fardell, Al Hattersley, Mitch Dansey tries; Will Oldham 6, Harry Fardell conv) def PARKES BOARS 26 (Mitch Leckie 2, penalty try, Nick Westcott tries; Dan Ryan 3 conv).
