Orange Emus are now 11 points clear at the top of the Blowes Clothing Cup table after thumping an undermanned, outclassed Dubbo Rhinos outfit at Endeavour Oval on Saturday afternoon.
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The greens racked up triple figures for the second time this season, running over the Rhinos to win 106-3.
Despite missing half a dozen guns of their own, it was a simple case of Emus being far too good for the Dubbo side in every facet of the game.
It didn’t help Rhinos were forced to play the majority of the game with 14 men, after inside centre Javarn Nofoagatotoa was red carded in the first half for striking.
Emus have secured maximum points in all 10 games this season, and Dubbo Kangaroos’ victory over second-placed Forbes helped stretch Emus’ buffer at the top of the table.
But, as you’d imagine, it’s not a game the greens can take much from, other than their ability to not let complacency creep in.
“Performance wise we were pretty good. We were a bit disjointed early and it probably took us about 20 minutes to hit our straps and we’ll take any win we can get, but you don’t read into those ones too much,” Emus flanker Jack Marchinton said.
“The Rhinos boys were struggling for numbers, we knew that going into the game, but they showed plenty of heart like they always do.”
One highlight of the game Marchinton pointed out was a slightly comical one, tighthead prop Michael Graham’s second-half try.
The bookend was superb the entire game and capped his performance off with a magnificent five-pointer midway through the second period.
Graham latched onto a Marchinton ball, found space and then went 40 metres untouched to score – much to the joy of the Endeavour Oval crowd.
“I haven’t seen a big boy move like that in a while,” Marchinton laughed.
“He had a good game and he’s been really good all season, it was a good bit of support play and he deserved the try. He came off straight after it, he was blowing.”