RUGBY UNION
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A MESUI Lemoto penalty goal in the 78th minute of Orange City's clash with Mudgee was enough to secure the Lions a nail-biting three point win at Pride Park on Saturday.
Twice the Wombats fought back from more than 10 points down in one of the most exciting Blowes Clothing Cup games in recent memory, eventually locking the scores at 31-all with just two minutes remaining.
When the Lions were awarded a penalty for holding on 22 metres out just to the left of the posts Lemoto, who kicked at 100 per cent for the afternoon, made no mistake with the attempt to all but seal the bonus point win.
"It was nerve-racking, but we had full confidence he was going to nut it," Orange City stand-in skipper, and No.8, Josh Maley said.
"I don't think that guy feels any pressure."
Mudgee sent shockwaves through the bumper Lions' crowd straight after kick-off when speedster Rob Penman opened the scoring, latching on to a slick Tom Lewsley flick pass, although the latter failed to add the extras.
The Lions hit back immediately through centre Jake Davis, then fullback Joe Lasagavibau, with Lemoto's boot pushing the score to 14-5.
When Lemoto converted Davis' second the floodgates looked set to open, and the Lions took a 21-5 lead into the half-time break.
However, amid a chorus of "dig 'Batties, dig" from the Mudgee supporters the Wombats rallied, scoring tries in the 42nd and 44th minutes through second rower Dave Jessiman and halfback Cameron Rosamund - only one of which was converted by five-eighth Josh Cookson.
A Wombats mistake gifted Lions' winger Taylor Smith a five pointer, but it only took another two minutes for Wombats centre Rota Setu to cross at the other end.
Cookson slotted the conversion to reduce the gap to four, at 28-24.
A Lemoto penalty goal shortly after, followed by some stoic Orange City line defense - holding out Mudgee after 16 consecutive phases inside the Lions' red zone - and the game looked over, until the Wombats were awarded one of just two penalties they received for the entire clash.
VIDEO: What was said after the full-time siren:
Jessiman burrowed his way over for his second on the back of some more clinical ball retention, and Cookson's conversion locked it up at 31-all.
However, Lemoto's boot proved the difference as the stand-in five-eighth slotted the final penalty, breaking the Wombats' hearts, a minute later.
"We were expecting a battle, Mudgee aren't the same side as last year," Maley said.
"They really gave us a challenge, which we expected. We knew we were in for a game ... they had momentum."
"We got out of jail a bit, but it was a great game of rugby and it was a great game to be a part of.
"We needed to stand up in the forwards a bit after last week Our set piece was good, and our scrum had us going forward all day. The last couple of weeks we've been going backwards, so to go forward provided a bit more momentum for our backs."
Mudgee co-coach Tom Flynn, although disappointed to lose such a close game, was visibly pleased with his troops' efforts.
"It's gutting, but we had opportunities," he said.
"A bit better start would have helped us. We fought back from more than 10 points down twice, so we can't complain.
"And we can't fault the effort, (Orange City has) been one of the benchmark teams (for the last few years).
"If we're only pulled up that short and we know we have things to work on I think we're right in it."
ORANGE CITY LIONS 34 (Jake Davis 2, Joe Lasagavibau, Taylor Smith tries; Mesui Lemoto 4 conv, 2 pen goals) def MUDGEE WOMBATS 31 (Dave Jessiman 2, Cameron Rosamund, Rota Setu, Rob Penman tries; Josh Cookson 3 conv)