A DAMAGING five minutes from the Gorillas prevented Orange City from producing an upset win over Narromine to finish off their Blowes Menswear Cup season.

Orange City held a 7-5 lead at half-time but the Gorillas came out from the break firing as they put on three quick tries to help them to a 45-12 win in Narromine.

The home side then added three late tries to blow out the score, the result leaving Orange City with seven wins from the season.

Orange City coach Michael Gray was happy with the way his eighth-placed team finished off their season but thought they were exposed out wide defensively in what proved a costly period following the break.

“Narromine deserved the win, they ramped it up after half-time,” Gray said.

“They just controlled the ball really well and caught us out wide.”

Narromine scored first with a try but they couldn’t hold on to the lead as Dan Sandford crossed for a converted try to put the visitors in front at half-time.

This is when the Gorillas blew the game apart as they crossed three times in five minutes to get out to 24-7.

Orange City captain Josh Tremain then went over for the the Lions midway into the second half to get the visitors back in the game at 24-12.

The 10 minutes following Tremain’s try were evenly shared but Narromine again put together three quick five-pointers to run out 33-point winners.

Gray wants to see his team stay together next season as he believes their youthful line-up will be much stronger in 2009 after gaining some valuable top grade experience in 2008.

“It’s been a learning curve for a lot of the blokes this year, their first year in first grade,” he said.

“It’s their first year in first grade and most of them are younger than 21.”

Gray admits he would like to continue coaching Orange City next year but he was unable to commit to applying for the role again as his current development officer position with NSW Rugby Union prevents him from coaching a club side.

His current contract expires next month and Gray will know more if and when it is extended, although he also indicated his desire to apply for the Central West Blue Bulls coaching job.

NARROMINE 45 def ORANGE CITY 12 (Dan Sandford, Josh Tremain tries Sandford conv).