RUGBY UNION
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ORANGE City claimed the 2015 Blowes Clothing Cup minor premiership with thumping win over Bathurst Bulldogs on Saturday.
In a surprisingly one-sided affair, the Lions were excellent at home winning 61-7.
The hosts ran in nine tries to Bulldogs' one, while the visitors also received three yellow cards and two red cards.
It was match in which everything seemed to go right for the Lions, while it was the complete opposite for the Bulldogs.
"Everything we did sort of worked today, every pop pass went through and we got a lot of forward momentum in that first half," Lions co-coach Mick Gray said.
"We still stuck at it, and as I said they came back at us but our defence and our line was good."
The Lions were up 33-0 at the break thanks to two tries to Jake Davis and singles to Feleti Wolfgramm, Sam Coote and Joey Lasagavibau. Davis also kicked four conversions.
Bathurst found the going tough in the final 10 minutes of the opening half as Jono Healey, Izaak Breen and Peter Fitzsimmons all spent time on the side with yellow cards.
The Bulldogs created a few more attacking chances in the second half but only winger Tyson Smith could finish off his opportunity in the 63rd minute when scooped up a dropped ball and sprinted 60 metres to score.
At that stage, Steve Locke's conversion closed the gap to 47-7.
The Lions were able to put on four tries in the second half, two each to Tatafu Na'aniumotu and Coote, to lock up the 54-point victory.
Late in the game Breen was given his second yellow card which resulted in a red, and moments after the full-time siren, Fitzsimmons was dealt the same blow.
VIDEO: What Orange City Lions coach Mick Gray had to say after full time:
It was a tough day for a Bulldogs side which turned in an uncharacteristically poor performance.
"We've been tracking actually a lot better as a team," Bulldogs coach Shane Cantrill said.
"That really blew me out of the water. We've knuckled down quite well. We've got some guys back today. We've been pretty injury-plagued in the last month.
"We played really bad, really undisciplined, really uncharacteristic. It was disappointing."
Cantrill was confident his players would move on from the loss as they prepare to take on CSU Bathurst in the last round before the semi-finals.
"Personally, we're better people for that. We've got good characteristics in our side and we are a better team than that," he said.
"We really let ourselves down for the hard work that we did. It was good to have a good look at individuals. I hope they take something from that and go forward."
Having claimed the minor premiership, Gray said the Lions players weren't worried about the pressure that comes with it.
"We've won comps before undefeated and everyone thought the pressure would get to us but they just like playing footy. That's just what they like to do and like to win," Gray smiled.
The Lions will take on Orange Emus in the final round local derby which will also be a top-of-the-table clash.
ORANGE CITY 61 (Sam Coote 3, Jake Davis 2, Tatafu Na'aniumotu 2, Feleti Wolfgramm, Joey Lasagavibau tries; Jake Davis 8 conv) def BATHURST BULLDOGS 7 (Tyson Smith try; Steve Locke conv).