Temora transferred a big week on the training track into their most consistent performance on game day, becoming the first team to knock over North Wagga this year.
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Kangaroos coach Jake Wooden couldn’t have been happier after they overpowered the Saints by 16 points, 13.10 (88) to 10.12 (72), at Nixon Park.
“From the word go, the boys were on today,” Wooden said. “We addressed a few things at training this week. The last three weeks we’ve talked about it and didn’t really do it but today was close to a four-quarter effort.”
After kicking 15 behinds in the loss to the Jets last week, Wooden wasn’t rapt with their first-half return of 5.8.
But the Saints were worse, kicking seven behinds in the second quarter to trail by a goal.
In the second half, it came together for the home side. Concerned about the ability of North Wagga to get on the outside and run, they concentrated on pressure. And it worked.
“Our pressure around the contest didn’t allow their on-ballers to break through… and our back six were really good,” Wooden said.
That paid dividends at the other end with eight goals in the second half. Matt Harpley led the way, finishing with three, as the Roos got out to as much as 28 points in front with five minutes left.
In a big team effort, defender Liam Pattison had a strong game on Alex Grozinger while Brayden Ambler was impressive in the middle.
The wins sees the Kangaroos head to The Rock next week with a lift in confidence after their second win of the season.
“It was good. I know we’ve got the talent so to put it together was pleasing,” Wooden said.
“We had to win today and they knew that. We’ve set the standard now so we’ve got to keep raising it.”