The Bulldogs and CSU open the season on a Friday night at Bathurst, with the Dogs proving too good in a 48-point drubbing of the students.

Mudgee’s Blowes Clothing Cup campaign is in free fall just one week into the competition after being thrashed 95-14 against Parkes, a side many marked to miss the finals in 2017.

SCORES: Orange City 38 def Cowra Eagles 10, Bathurst Bulldogs 58 def CSU Bathurst 10, Orange Emus 68 def Dubbo Rhinos 3, Parkes Boars 95 def Mudgee Wombats 14, Forbes Platypi 26 def Dubbo Kangaroos 22.

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ROUND TWO:

Roos skipper Shaun McHugh launches a stinging attack on former teammates Filisone Pauta and Moa Kavaefiafi after the pair jumped ship to GrainCrop Cup club Geurie in the weeks leading into the season.

“If they want to play in a second division competition and not push themselves, then let them go ... we don’t miss them.” 

They didn’t either, Roos running out big round two winners over the Lions.

The first grand final rematch of the new season proves a fizzer, with Emus running in 62 points against Forbes at Endeavour Oval.

SCORES: Orange Emus 62 def Forbes Platypi 20, Dubbo Roos 45 def Orange City 12, Bathurst Bulldogs 55 def Mudgee Wombats 0, Parkes Boars 27 def Cowra Eagles 10, Dubbo Rhinos 25 def CSU Bathurst 13. 

ROUND THREE:

Orange City heads into the round determined to avenge last season’s heartbreaking finals loss to the Bulldogs, but battles against the hosts at Ann Ashwood.

Despite a 19-9 penalty count against the Dogs, the Bathurst side cruises to victory.

SCORES: Orange Emus 59 def Cowra 13, Dubbo Roos 26 def Parkes 22, Dubbo Rhinos 41 def Mudgee Wombats 7, Bathurst Bulldogs 27 def Orange City 14, Forbes 29 def CSU Bathurst 0.

ROUND FOUR:

After holding an extraordinary general meeting to discuss the matter, CWRU passed a motion to lift the colts age group to under 20s.

But the move came with a warning from Emus supremo Steve Fergus: “We can’t use this change to rest on our laurels, numbers will continue to be an issue if clubs don’t grow participation.”

On the field, Roos centre Billy Sing scores five tries in Dubbo’s near-century route of the students.

SCORES: Dubbo Kangaroos 96 def CSU Bathurst 17, Orange Emus 40 def Mudgee Wombats 7, Bathurst Bulldogs 31 def Cowra Eagles 0, Orange City Lions 52 def Dubbo Rhinos 19, Forbes Platypi 21 def Parkes Boars 17.

ROUND FIVE:

Dubbo Rhinos boss Ian Burns is fuming his club is docked two points by Central West Rugby Union for failing to put a third grade side on the park in round four.

In action, Emus continue its Orange supremacy with a 34-point drubbing of the Lions after Easts and Gordon fought out a thrilling Shute Shield clash at Wade Park.

SCORES: Orange Emus 46 def Orange City 12, Dubbo Rhinos 10 def Cowra Eagles 5, Bathurst Bulldogs 30 def Dubbo Roos 15, Parkes Boars 33 def CSU Bathurst 22, Forbes Platypi 72 def Mudgee Wombats 7 

ROUND SIX:

Roos scores a 20-0 win in a thrilling Dubbo derby against Rhinos. 

On a Saturday night, under lights and surrounded by a bumper crowd at No. 1 Oval, the Rhinos threw everything at the Roos but failed to trouble the scorers in the 80 minutes.

SCORES: Orange Emus 40 def CSU Bathurst 0, Dubbo Roos 20 def Dubbo Rhinos 0, Forbes 36 def Orange City 5, Bathurst Bulldogs 70 def Parkes 7, Cowra 30 def Mudgee 17.

ROUND SEVEN:

Tries, tries, ties. Roos’ Viliame Turuva scored seven and Emus speedster Carter Hirini four as their respective sides each cracked triple figures in two embarrassing scorelines for the competition.

SCORES: Orange Emus 101 def Parkes Boars 0, Orange City Lions 36 def CSU Bathurst 21, Dubbo Kangaroos 105 def Mudgee Wombats 0, Bathurst Bulldogs 51 def Dubbo Rhinos 5, Forbes Platypi 73 def Cowra Eagles 7.

WATCH THE MONDAY WRAP DISCUSS THE BLOW-OUT MARGINS IN 2017:

ROUND EIGHT:

Forbes flexes its muscle, storming back from a 10-point deficit to knock off the Bulldogs 27-17, inflicting the Bathurst club with its first top grade loss of the season.

Elsewhere, City losses gun give-eighth Jackson Coote with a broken nose and Emus celebrate its 70^th anniversary celebrations with a win over Roos.

SCORES: Orange Emus 38 def Dubbo Roos 15, Forbes Platypi 27 def Bathurst Bulldogs 17, Cowra Eagles 60 def CSU Bathurst 29, Parkes Boars 59 def Dubbo Rhinos 7, Orange City Lions 67 def Mudgee Wombats 10.

ROUND NINE:

Forbes coach Hare Lavaka predicts Bathurst to be able to push two-time defending champs Emus ahead of the two sides’ round nine clash.

In the end, the Orange club proves too good, securing another bonus-point win to remain undefeated in 2017.

SCORES: Orange Emus 29 def Bathurst Bulldogs 15, Orange City Lions 17 drew Parkes Boars 17, Mudgee Wombats 22 drew CSU Bathurst 22, Forbes Platypi 81 def Dubbo Rhinos 14, Dubbo Kangaroos 52 def Cowra Eagles 8.

ROUND 10:

Change begins to sweep the CWRU, with the board holding an extraordinary general meeting to determine whether or not to split the top tier into two five-team competitions for the remainder of the winter.

While Cowra unveils a throng of mid-season recruits to sweep the Lions and Emus hit a ton for the second time this season.

SCORES: Bathurst Bulldogs 71 def CSU Bathurst 5, Orange Emus 106 def Dubbo Rhinos 3, Dubbo Kangaroos 27 def Forbes Platypi 19, Mudgee Wombats 17 def Parkes Boars 13, Cowra Eagles 50 def Orange City Lions 17

ROUND 11:

Not again.

After kicking Emus to the 2016 title courtesy of a penalty goal after full-time against Forbes, Nigel Staniforth boots the greens to another victory over the Platypi – this time 22-20 at Grinsted Oval.

While CSU records its first win of the season, accounting for Dubbo Rhinos at Bathurst.

SCORES: Bathurst Bulldogs 78 def Mudgee Wombats 7, Cowra Eagles 79 def Parkes Boars 17, CSU Bathurst 17, Orange Emus 22 def Forbes Platypi 20, Dubbo Kangaroos 46 def Orange City Lions 19.

ROUND 12:

Bathurst survives a scare from Orange City, and the wrath of the referee’s whistle, at Pride Park, eventually running out 39-17 winners despite conceding the final 13 penalties in the clash.

SCORES: Bathurst Bulldogs 39 def Orange City 17, Mudgee Wombats 36 def Dubbo Rhinos 14, Dubbo Kangaroos 62 def Parkes Boars 19, Orange Emus 29 def Cowra Eagles 13, Forbes Platypi 41 def CSU Bathurst 0.

ROUND 13:

Orange City’s teenage sensation Hunter Ward bagged five tries in his top grade debut against the battling Dubbo Rhinos.

Ward crosses for half of the Lions’ 10 tries in the 65-0 victory.

SCORES: Bathurst Bulldogs 27 def Cowra 8; Dubbo Kangaroos 52 def CSU Bathurst 26; Orange Emus 79 Mudgee 0: Forbes 47 def Parkes 13; Orange City 63 def Dubbo Rhinos 0. 

ROUND 14:

“We just don’t have the first grade footballers (anymore).”

A devastated Ian Burns reveals the Dubbo Rhinos club has forfeited every grade to the Cowra Eagles, marking a low point for the club in its 25^th anniversary season.

Long-time CEO Peter Veenstra announces his retirement after 31 years in the role.

SCORES: Orange Emus 58 def Orange City 7, Dubbo Roos 27 def Bathurst Bulldogs 21, Cowra Eagles def Dubbo Rhinos via forfeit, CSU Bathurst 35 def Parkes 17, Forbes 55 def Mudgee 13.

ROUND 15:

Roos coach Dean Matthews slams the standard of refereeing in the central west in the wake of his side’s 38-19 win over cross-town rivals Dubbo Rhinos.

Meanwhile, the Lions produce their best effort of the season in a tough loss to the Platypi and the Dogs crack the century mark via a massive 19 tries against Parkes.

SCORES: Orange Emus 48 def CSU Bathurst 3, Bathurst Bulldogs 123 def Parkes Boars 17, Dubbo Kangaroos 38 def Dubbo Rhinos 19, Cowra Eagles 65 def Mudgee Wombats 3, Forbes Platypi 32 def Orange City Lions 24.

ROUND 16: 

In one of the most remarkable moments of the 2017 season, CSU players Jack Keppel and Andrew Fraser perform CPR on Lions coach Steve Hamson after the Orange City mentor collapses 30 minutes before their clash at Pride Park.

The pair’s actions, and the help of a few by-standers, help save the life of the Lions head coach.

SCORES: Orange City Lions 31 def CSU Bathurst 15, Bathurst Bulldogs 56 def Dubbo Rhinos 5, Dubbo Kangaroos 57 def Mudgee Wombats 5, Orange Emus 72 def Parkes Boars 5, Forbes Platypi 31 def Cowra Eagles 22 

ROUND 17:

McHugh accuses his side of being “soft” after a rampant Orange Emus unit dominated its penultimate round top-of-the table clash, storming home in the second half to secure a 36-point win. 

SCORES: Orange Emus 41 def Dubbo Kangaroos 5, Forbes Platypi 24 def Bathurst Bulldogs 13, Cowra Eagles 43 def CSU Bathurst 19, Dubbo Rhinos 22 def Parkes Boars 12, Orange City Lions 47 def Mudgee Wombats 5.

ROUND 18: 

With a hard-fought, 24-point final round win over a determined Bathurst Bulldogs outfit, Orange Emus became the first team since their cross-city rivals Orange City in 2013 to finish a regular season undefeated.

Forbes secures second, Roos third and Bathurst books an elimination semi-final at Ashwood Park against Orange City for the second year running.

SCORES: Orange Emus 29 def Bathurst Bulldogs 5, Orange City 29 def Parkes Boars 12, CSU Bathurst 57 def Mudgee 12, Forbes 31 def Dubbo Rhinos 5, Dubbo Roos 35 def Cowra Eagles 29.

WEEK ONE: 

“We’re looking forward to having another crack at them … we felt we were robbed last year in the grand final and we felt like we were robbed here in the second round (this season).”

Forbes skipper Jack Hammond lights the fuse for his side’s major semi-final clash with Emus following a 40-14 win over the Roos in the qualifying semi-final.

Meanwhile, for the second straight season, the Dogs knockout Orange City in the elimination semi-final, although this year’s clash is far less thrilling that the extra-time Bathurst victory of 2016.

The hosts win 37-17 to progress through to week two of the finals, while the Lions leave Ann Ashwood Park and 2017 empty handed, again.

WEEK TWO:

Oh no … Nigel Staniforth, again, sinks Forbes in the clutch, booting Emus into the 2017 grand final thanks to a 20-17 major semi-final victory at Endeavour Oval.

With the scores locked at 17-all, Emus win a penalty and their skipper stands up to nail the telling three-pointer.

While in the minor semi-final, Bathurst knocks out Dubbo in a 17-11 thriller, withstanding a late barrage from the hosts at No.1 Oval to progress to within a game of the 2017 grand final.

WEEK THREE:

Forbes hangs on to win 20-18 over the Bulldogs at Grinsted Oval, the Bathurst club falling agonisingly short of a grand final berth.

Halfback Brad Glasson misses a couple of late penalty goal attempts, shots that, had they gone through the posts, would have propelled the Dogs into the lead late in the preliminary final.

GRAND FINAL:

You got the feeling all season this was eventually coming.

Forbes produces its best performance of the season to down rivals and two-time defending premiers Emus 28-20 on the grand stage.

Emus hit the lead early in the second-half, inching ahead 17-13, but Platypi star Mahe Fangupo helped lift Forbes to the club’s first top grade premiership since 2003.

In the lower grades, Emus defeat Bathurst 21-16 in second grade, City ended a 29-year premiership drought in third grade with a 25-3 win over the Dogs, the Bathurst club scored a colts title via a thrilling 12-11 decider win over the Lions and the Bulldogs’ girls won their first women’s title, storming to 15-5 triumph over Cowra.

CHECK OUT THE FINAL STAGES OF FORBES’ MEMORABLE GRAND FINAL WIN:

It’s easy to get lost in the Orange-Bathurst-Dubbo monotony of central west sport and forget just how much a premiership means to those outside of the region’s big three.

Look at the last five years of rugby union: Orange Emus (2016), Orange Emus (2015), Dubbo Roos (2014), Orange City (2013), Orange City (2012) – you get the picture.

And then tiny clubs, like the mighty Forbes Platypi, pop up and rekindle what it really means to triumph on the grand stage.

Take nothing away from the titles of the previously mentioned five – but last September was seriously special.

After coming close in 2016 and then falling just short of knocking off Blowes Clothing Cup giants Orange Emus during the regular season and then again in the major semi-final, rugby union’s version of David rose to the challenge and finally knocked off Goliath.

For Forbes, you got the sense it was coming too.

It was only a matter of time before Jack Hammond, pictured left, and his outfit put it all together and, perhaps more tellingly, denied Emus super-boot Nigel Staniforth a chance to kick his side to victory.

Up 28-20, game beyond doubt, full-time whistle blown – the scenes of the Platypi’s first title since 2003 are unforgettable. 

Players are in tears, fans flood Endeavour Oval, old mate in the retro Platypi jumper slips over in the mud. It’s timeless.

Teams that draw on populations of just over 7000 people, really, aren’t supposed to compete with clubs based in city’s bursting with 45,000 people.

Looking back at the Central West Rugby Union, it’s evident in the fact just four teams in the last four decades based outside of Orange-Bathurst-Dubbo have lifted the top flight premiership.

So while change is afoot with the 2018 structure of rugby in the central west, let’s just stop and savour what has been a cracker of a 2017 season.