It was a frantic game played in perfect winter conditions, the Dubbo Demons started full of fire before the Orange/Forbes Swamp Tigers were able to take the lead in the third quarter at Orange.
Dubbo took the Swamp Tigers by surprise with their physical play and ball movement to lead by thirteen points early in the first term before Orange/Forbes were able to settle and take a quarter time lead. Dubbo took control in the second term kicking three goals three to nil to take a fourteen point lead at half time. The third term was the complete opposite with Orange/Forbes kicking four goals three to one behind to lead by twelve points going into the last break. In the last quarter the game went to another level with both teams moving the ball, looking to score and take the win in a frantic finish. The final score was Orange/Forbes 8.8 (56), Dubbo 6.6 (42).
The under 12’s match was an equally absorbing affair. The Dubbo under 12’s kicked an early goal to lead by six. Tyson McLennan’s first AFL goal evened up the score soon after, but Dubbo took a narrow lead into the first break. The Swamp/Tigers kicked six goals and five behinds and kept Dubbo scoreless throughout the second and third terms. Dubbo rallied in the final quarter and kicked two early goals, but again Orange/Forbes were able to respond. The final score was Orange/Forbes 10.9 (69) to Dubbo’s 5.0 (30).
Tyson McLennan was awarded best on ground (BOG) for the under 12’s, while Will Northey, played strongly in defence, Max Ridge was dominant in the ruck and Romulus Milsom again played well. In the under 14’s Jackson Beaudin made it a dominant day for the FJAFL also being named BOG, while Zain Clark put in his best performance of the year in defence and was instrumental in their win.
In other games the Orange Youth Girls took out Dubbo 14.4 (88) to 2.2 (14), while in the under 17’s Orange/Forbes won 9.10 (64) to 0.2 (2).
This week Orange/Forbes take on the Giants in Bathurst.