by Brendan Bradford – Melbourne Rising kept their unbeaten streak intact with a 37-16 win over NSW Country Eagles in front of a healthy and passionate crowd at Wade Park in Orange on Saturday. The picturesque backdrop, coupled with a wine and food festival at the back of the stands, made for a great afternoon of rugby in the bush even if the well-supported home-side couldn't come away with the result. It was one of the tougher matches for the Rising who held an eight point lead approaching halftime but showed enough patience and maturity to work through a tough patch and power on in the second 40 for a fifth straight bonus point victory. Once again, the Stirzaker-Debreczeni partnership skilfully steered the Rising around the park, with Stirzaker’s defensive commitment to stand in the road of