In an impressive first half perfomance, the Diesels scored six tries to set up a 32-10 lead coming into the second stanza.

However, the second half was a complete opposite.

Penalties and poor discipline helped Albury get back into the contest.

The Thunder scored two tries early in the second half and despite Peter Little answering back for Junee, pushing the margin back out to 14 with 20 to play, it didn’t stop the Thunder.

Two tries to Alex Jones, including his third from a clever by utility replacement Mitch McLeod, closed the gap to four points with nine minute remaining.

However, the Diesels held strong.

A big break from fullback Daniel Foley, who was among the best players on the ground, had Albury on the back foot.

After winning a penalty on the next play, captain-coach Matt Hands slotted a penalty goal to take the scoreline to 38-32 and it was enough for the win.

Hands was pleased with team was able to hold on for the win and remain unbeaten to start the season.

“We were extremely pleased with that first half of footy,” Hands said.

“It was the best 40 minutes we’ve put together in a long time.

“We knew they would come out, they are good side and we spoke about them at half-time.

“We made a few errors to let them right back into the game and in the end it was a real slog.”

Junee was clinical in the first half and pounced on any opportunity given to them by Albury, however they couldn’t sustain the pressure.

Hands thought the team’s lack of discipline helped the Thunder get back into the contest.

“It just wasn’t good enough there with a few drop balls, a few penalties and in the end there we just held on and scraped together.”

The win in the Diesels third in a row away from home.

After a scrappy win over Brothers to start the season they have now come away from trips to Young, Gungadai and Albury with success.

Before the season started, Hands wanted to at least two of the three wins and is thrilled with where his team is situated on the Group Nine ladder.

“It is a real tough place to come down and play footy at, especially after Gundagai so we are extremely pleased with where we are sitting at the moment,” he said.

“We couldn’t have hoped for a better start.”

Junee will return to Laurie Daley Oval to tackle Temora next week.

Will Merritt will need to be assessed after failing to come onto the field in the second half.

He was among his team’s biggest weapons, but was struggling with a cork.

Albury, who played without five-eighth Shannon Rupapere will be looking to bounce back against Tumbarumba.