Narromine Gorillas will be represented in next Saturday’s First Grade Major Semi-final against Bathurst Bulldogs at Bathurst while our Colts finished their great season last Sunday, going down to Orange Emus 7-22 at Narromine’s Royal Cale Oval.

Colts co-coaches Craig Campbell and Stu Duff and their charges have had a wonderful year.

Captain Sam McLeod has consistently led from the front while players such as Sam Cochrane, Angus Webb and Josh Wrench have made outstanding contributions.

Last Saturday Henry Buttsworth’s try was a beauty; Bronson Barker’s bullocking runs were highlights (like his hair); Kale Bock and Mark Kilby were solid; while Aaron Abel, as usual, showed great determination and grit in both attack and defence.

First grade was indeed an entertaining match.

The Gorillas raced away to a 10-0 lead, courtesy of a try to Charlie MacInnes (and can’t he run a fine angle) and a conversion and penalty goal to the extravagantly-coiffured Scott Burgess.

Emus replied with a top converted try then Narromine posted two more. Luke Harding was the only person, player or spectator, to guess where an attempted Craig Duff banana kick (more of a watermelon) would land and Harding proceeded to deal with the several opposition speed bumps in front of him as only he can; while the flying Greg Wynn flashed in for the other. Half-time score: 20-7.

Sam Ward look-alike, Dan Maroulis, received a good ball from Burgess, kicked ahead to regather, exhibit an eisteddfod-level pirouette, and score: 25-7. Emus responded with a great converted try of their own: 25-14.

With 26 minutes to go,the Orange boys upped the ante with another meat pie (25-19); before a Luke Harding special sealed the match (30-19), and a second shot at Bathurst Bulldogs at Bathurst next Saturday (with the victor securing a grand final appointment with the Dubbo Roos the following Saturday).

Dan Maroulis look-alike, Sam Ward, had another magic game; while Dan Hodgson, George Quigley and Jeremy Brown were very effective.