Roos haunted in a nightmare of a game

COLD, wet and not at all conducive to running rugby, Pride Park set the scene for a Dubbo rugby player's worst nightmare as Orange City strangled the life out of the visiting Roos in a 25-3 triumph on Saturday.

Etching a chapter that wouldn't look out of place in another edition of The Nightmare on Elm Street, the Lions stepped up big when it mattered most to perform a job on the Roos that Freddy Krueger would be proud of.

In a game centred around the pack, Orange City lifted with the Lions' scrum and line-out dominating as rain put a dampener on the first grand final rematch of the 2013 season.

There was, however, no dampening the spirits of Orange City as players and coaches alike rode home Sione Lafo'ou when the try-scoring whiz scooped on a loose pass and raced 80 metres to score the home side's fourth try of the afternoon right on full-time.

The bonus-point win, in those conditions, was gold for the Lions.

"It's huge on a day like today," Hamson said of his side's home ground advantage, with Pride Park resembling a mud bath in patches.

"We probably get conditions like this twice a week. I don't think Dubbo enjoyed it too much at all."

Orange City defied the early rain and slippery ball in the opening six minutes, throwing caution to the wind to eventually crack Dubbo's defence through lanky winger Jackson Coote, sliding in for the home side's first five-pointer.

Duncan Young missed the conversion from the sideline, then, 10 minutes later, missed a relatively simple penalty attempt from in front of the posts to see the score remain 5-0.

Josh Dodd soon posted Roos' first points, slotting his own penalty attempt to take the score to 5-3.

The two-point difference remained until just after halftime when fullback Sam Dwyer found a gap, again out wide, to post first points for City in the second half.

In tough kicking conditions, Young again pushed his conversion attempt wide.

It was a mistake the openside flanker didn't make 10 minutes later, hitting home the extras after the Orange City pack drove through the heart of the Roos with Chris Barrett scoring off a rolling maul.

Barrett's try put the Lions up 20-3 but from that point on, Dubbo entrenched themselves in City's territory.

A flood of penalties - seven in a row at one point - ensured the Dubbo side continually threatened Orange City's defence, but time and time again the Lions held on, emulating the sort of goal-line steel that was a feature of last year's premiership winning campaign.

A Lafo'ou special later, and Orange City racked up win number seven for 2013.

"I noticed on the tele the other night Pete Nau said it was going to be a try-fest. I don't know what his weather man has been telling him," Hamson grinned.

All Nau could do was smile.

"Hopefully we play them back in Dubbo on a sunnier day," the Country Cockatoos hooker laughed.

"They're very good. They're always strong, especially at home and it was no different today.

"They're more aggressive at the breakdown. They back their 'D'. They're a good team. They trust their system, I think we just need to be a bit more patient and add a bit more variety."

The City backrow starred, with Gus Brotherton, Young and Keith Andrews dominant at the ruck while, in his return from injury, Nick Quinn was strong at halfback.

For the visitors, Dodd was dogged at No.9 while Nau tried hard.

"They're the benchmark," he added.

"We've just got to be better."

ORANGE CITY 25 (Sione Lafo'ou, Sam Dwyer, Jackson Coote, Chris Barrett tries; Duncan Young conv, pen goal) def DUBBO ROOS 3 (Josh Dodd pen goal).