It has been a long time coming. Seven years in fact.

But finally the Mudgee Wombats cracked it for their first Blowes Clothing Cup win when they hammered Narromine Gorillas 40-17 in front of a parochial Jubilee Oval crowd.

Since returning to Central West Rugby Union’s top shelf after six years in their second division competition, Mudgee had gone 12 weeks without a win.

They came antagonisingly close last week when they were beaten 26-25 by CSU Bathurst but they weren’t going to be denied this time.

There were scenes of joy and celebration at “The Burrow” when the Wombats players came off the field and walked through the crowd to the dressing room.

Team-song master Toby Lewis then led his team-mates through a raucous and emotional rendition of the Wombats’ victory song.

“It’s good to sing the team song again. Obviously it has been a while, we had to remember how it went,” Wombats coach Justin Sutherland said with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

“We had a couple of our guys back which helped like Nick Whitmore and Ben Cheetham in the centres, but our attitude in general was outstanding and once we got a sniff, things started to go right.

“The forwards played like they normally do but the backs had some penetration, which was a nice change. 

“It is good to get the monkey off the back. It should’ve been last week but nevertheless we need to continue to move forward with what we got and see if we can’t pick up another one or two [wins] along the way.”

Mudgee’s win was set up by a brilliant first half where they took a 19-10 lead into the sheds.

Young colts players Jonah Poppe and Brian O’Reilly got on the scorer’s sheet as did Tom Purcell for Mudgee.

Narromine had a chance to close the gap to six on half-time but fly-half’s Tom Harrison’s penalty goal attempt went wide.

Mudgee started the second half well when captain Rupert Sheridan scored from close range a few minutes after the restart and when Adam Rayner scored six minutes later to put his team up 33-10, the home crowd knew they were witnessing history.

Both teams toiled hard in the middle of the field but Mudgee’s forwards always met the Gorillas up close.

Wombats’ backs, led by Cheetham and Whitmore, were clicking and using the ball nicely.

Narromine’s second-rower Craig Campbell scored to get his team within 16 points.

But it seemed nothing was going to stop Mudgee from their historic win and when the Gorillas spread the ball wide from the scrum in their own half, Poppe – in his second first grade match – picked off an intercept and scored to seal the 23-point win.

“The first 15 minutes our attitude and defence weren’t that flash,” Sutherland said.

“I put Sam Ritchie onto the field and he gets a bit feisty, and that and a few other things, the mood changed and we started to get on top of things, and from there on it was a roll on.

“Rob McKid had his best game I’ve seen since last year. Sam Schmidt had another fantastic game, Tom Purcell was also outstanding. 

“Rupert Sheridan put his body on the line, I tried to take him off twice but he wouldn’t come so all in all, it was a really good attitude win.

“We have just to continue with this sort of feeling at training. Remember it and get it back and see if we can’t get another team on the back turn.”

MUDGEE WOMBATS 40 (Jonah Poppe 2, Brian O’Reilly, Tom Purcell, Rupert Sheridan, Adam Rayner tries; Rob McKid 3, O’Reilly 2 conversions) def NARROMINE GORILLAS 17 (Tim Allcorth, Craig Campbell tries; Tom Harrison 2 conversions, penalty goal).