What a difference a year makes. In consecutive weeks, North Wagga have put to bed some of the demons of the past with wins against recent bogey teams.
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At McPherson Oval on Saturday, the Saints set up an 11.14 (80) to 9.5 (59) victory. against The Rock-Yerong Creek with a flying first quarter.
It backed up their round two win over East Wagga-Kooringal, and ensured an unbeaten start to the season.
“We’ve had trouble with both teams in the past so it’s good to get the result,” coach Kirk Hamblin said.
“(But) I just said keep a lid on it… we know we’ve started well but we’ve done nothing yet. It’s real early days.”
North Wagga started like the proverbial house on fire (which was appropriate given the smoke drifting across the ground at times).
With Lachie Highfield and Corey Watt providing plenty of run, they kicked seven of the first eight goals and led by 43 points midway through the second quarter.
It could’ve been more, with a handful of goals going begging.
It could also have been costly against a team like the Pies, who worked their way back into the contest either side of half-time.
Lachie Hunter made the most of a free kick after the siren while returning forward Luke Webb capitalised on nice delivery from Tom Yates and Dave Pieper to kick two goals, as the margin closed to 24 points.
Saints were restricted to three goals after half-time – individual efforts to Watt and Highfield, while forward Alex Grozinger kicked his second after his seventh mark.
But he was outscored by Highfield (three goals), who was outstanding.
“His workrate’s better than anyone’s I’ve seen or played with probably,” Hamblin said. “He played really well.”
North Wagga were also without defender Daniel Jordan for three quarters after he was concussed in a head clash with Aiden Ridley.
A split Ridley returned to play his usual strong hand while Yates and Pieper were crucial to much of TRYC’s good play and gave Saints a bit to think about.
“Our accountability in the midfield,” Hamblin said.
“Dave Pieper, I’m not sure how old he is, but he’s playing like he’s 25… he was a big issue for us. And Tommy Yates. So when we’re getting beaten in the clearances, to really knuckle down and reverse that momentum is something to work on.”
Justin Driscoll was superb, proving a headache for the Saints’ defence.
TRYC kicked three of the last four goals to ease the pain of consecutive losses. But there was a sting in the tail with forward Fergus Inglis reported for striking in the fourth quarter.
He was penalised for a high tackle but yellow carded and in the book for the ensuing scuffle with North Wagga’s Matt Thomas.