Wagga City scored their first victory in five weeks, and ended CSU’s winning streak in the process, with a strong performance at Beres Ellwood Oval on Saturday.
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Coming into the two general byes the Boiled Lollies had suffered losses to Tumut, Leeton and Waratahs but rebounded to put a dampener on the Reddies charity day for Headspace.
Coach Michael Kanck was pleased to get back to winning ways with a 57-19 victory over their crosstown rivals.
“We were happy with how things went,” Kanck said.
“We were switched on for it, which was our big test to start too.
“We had a point to prove coming off a two-week bye and got the result we were after.”
There was plenty of points put on in the second half, but the Boiled Lollies were always able to get themselves at least one step ahead.
After altering both their defensive and attacking structures at the break, Kanck thought the team did more damage with the ball in the second half.
“We supported our ball carrying better and it paid dividends,” he said.
The return of James Curgenven also helped lift the Boiled Lollies attack.
Back from a short stint with Group Nine club Tumut, Curgenven provided plenty of spark at fullback.
Kanck was pleased by how the Englishman slotted back into the team.
“He (Curgenven) gave us a lot of direction, especially off turnover ball,” he said. “He guided our wingers very well and gave Jayden Stanton another option at five-eighth.”
Halfback Stu Dyer put in another strong game while Keifer Power impressed in the centres as he scored a hat-trick.
Jarrod Peterson also scored a try in his first grade debut.
He definitely put in a strong case to retain his place on the wing for the clash against Griffith next Saturday.
After breaking their long winless streak against Griffith and following it up with another win against Albury, CSU missed out on the chance to push into the top five with the result.
They remain in seventh place but are now eight points behind fifth-placed Albury and will have their work cut out for them to make finals.
They also face a tough road trip to Tumut on Saturday, but weren’t too far off the Bulls when the two teams met earlier in the season.
The bonus point win has moved Wagga City back into the top three, just ahead of the Bulls on percentage.
It also leaves them five points clear of Ag College in sixth.
