And then there was one.
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Eight rounds in and East Wagga-Kooringal are the only unbeaten team in the Farrer League after an 80-point win over Temora at Nixon Park on Saturday.
Apart from round one at The Rock, when they were held to a draw, the Hawks have taken maximum points in every game, stretching their winning streak to seven.
They set up the 15.15 (105) to 4.1 (25) win with a five-goal second quarter and were never headed then by a Kangaroos outfit which finished without a bench for the second week in a row.
Coming off a hiding from North Wagga, Temora asked the question of the Hawks early and trailed by just two points at the first break.
Unfortunately, the answer wasn’t one they wanted to hear as the new competition front-runners asserted their dominance, kicking 12.12 to 1.0 in the last three quarters.
Coach Gavin McMahon said the Hawks adjusted better after quarter-time but the scoreline didn’t reflect the nature of the contest.
“All day, from start to finish, it was just brutal,” McMahon said.
“It was played in really good spirits but both sides ripping in like I haven't seen for a while.
“I think we just adapted to the conditions a bit quicker.
“Both sides were trying to play dry-weather footy in the first quarter but we adapted quicker which got us on a roll.”
With a big game looming at Coleambally next Saturday, McMahon was pleased to see one of their more consistent performances.
The Hawks defence found their duck feet in the second quarter, through Brenton Roberts, Trent Garner and Guy McAlister.
From there, a crack midfield ensured they got on top and key forwards Marc Geppert and Billy Mearns capitalised, sharing eight goals.
“Billy Mearns was our best today, he had a great game,” McMahon said.
“He was marking the footy like it was a dry day.
“Today, wet and miserable, to have five out of full-forward, three out of centre-half-forward, and then a good spread after that, you can see it was a pretty good team performance.”
Stu Brierty, Nick Baggio, James Creasy and Steve Smith all returned for EWK – handy ins, and against a Temora side down three players from last week, and three more by the final siren.
The Kangaroos face The Rock-Yerong Creek next week but Robbie Krause (shoulder) is unlikely to be fit while midfielder Sam Jensen (cork) will be “touch-and-go” according to Temora coach Christin Macri, who could be forgiven for dodging black cats and ladders for a while.
Ruckman Anthony Atkin also copped a few knocks to the legs and was unable to finish the game.
But Macri was heartened by the effort his young charges showed, particularly early after last week’s big loss.
