ORANGE Emus are two wins away from an appearance in a third straight Blowes Clothing Cup second grade decider, but coach Steve Levett said taking to the field on grand final day isn’t even a consideration for his troops just yet.
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He said they’re solely focused on Bathurst Bulldogs in Saturday’s qualifying semi-final in Forbes.
“We haven’t beaten Bulldogs yet this season so I don’t think we have right to look any further ahead than this weekend,” Levett said.
Levett was referring to the 23-15 and 15-12 losses the greens suffered to the Bulldogs in rounds one and 12, respectively.
“Round one is round one, you write that off almost as soon as it happens. It was that long ago it isn’t relevant,” Levett said.
“But last time around it was as much our mistakes as Bulldogs playing well that let them into the game and win it in the end, so we know we can beat them.
“We’re a much better side now than we were last time we played Bulldogs. I’m sure they’ve improved too so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Emus are coming off a last-gasp win against Orange City, which cemented their place in Saturday’s second-versus-third playoff.
“They’re the games we’ve lost at times this season, the close ones, so being able to fight our way into a position to win the game and then being able to capitalise is a massive confidence boost for us,” Levett said.
“We’re not short of confidence at the moment actually so it just adds to that, we’ve hit our straps in the last two weeks so now it becomes about maintaining that performance.
“That starts against Bulldogs, we’ll be looking to our forward pack to win the battle up front and set up the game for us. Our scrum has been a real weapon this year, so we’re hoping to be strong there again too.”
Last Saturday’s result also resigned Orange City to fifth, and Sunday’s elimination semi-final against Parkes in Bathurst.
Crucially though, the Lions are expected to get half a dozen regular second graders back for Sunday’s do-or-die final.
“We have been missing a few and they are all back this weekend I think,” Orange City captain-coach Anthony Kent said.
“There’s plenty of motivation for us in this one, last time around Parkes scored a [contentious try on full-time] to beat us and they’ll have a decent side again.
“We’re still very confident though.
“We just need to keep our intensity up through the whole game, not fall asleep in patches like we have been.”
The second grade games kick off at 1.45pm.