Waratahs survived a late fightback from Tumut to take the points during the return of the Southern Inland season on Saturday.
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The Wagga club was in control for the majority of the game at Conolly Rugby Complex, including leading 38-12 midway through the second half, before the Bulls launched a desperate attack during the dying stages.
Rampaging Tumut prop Joe Ioane scored three tries, including the last two of the game, but the Bulls ran out of time as Waratahs held on for a 38-33 win.
Despite coming away with their eighth win this season, coach Angus Macleod wants his team to improve.
“We certainly could have been on the receiving end of a loss there, especially in the last 10 minutes,” Macleod said. “We obviously have a lot of things to work on.
“Having that break didn’t help, it didn’t allow us work on structure, positions and combinations, but credit to Tumut.
“Especially in the last 10 minutes they played really good, unstructured footy and we paid the cost but were lucky to get away with the win.”
Tumut were the first on the board when Ioane broke through some soft defence to score.
However, Waratahs quickly hit back when Austin Wallace charged over from close range then young winger Corey Toole crossed for a double to give his team’s lead.
First he plucked an intercept before racing away to score and four minutes later he was in again, after finding himself in plenty of space following a turnover.
Dan Selmes then crossed to give his team a 24-7 lead right on half-time.
Tumut needed to be the first team to score in the second half and were when Harrison Friswell stepped through two defenders to score.
However, seven minutes later Waratahs were in again when young halfback Tom Hallam scored following a strong run from Selmes.
Captain Tim Corcoran then proved too strong for Friswell to have his team a 38-12 before Tumut stormed back into the contest.
Dan Dowson’s try started their comeback before Ioane, who the Bulls really missed when he was off the field, threatened to make it a thrilling finish, but his third try the last play of the day.
Conceding the three tries in the last 10 minutes is far from the ideal approach to a mouthwatering clash with ladder leaders Leeton.
The undefeated Phantoms are the only team that has beaten Waratahs this season and the two meet at Leeton No.1 Oval on Saturday.
Macleod wants his team to pick up their game.
“We have to have the commitment and we have to have to urgency,” he said.
“We don’t have the urgency there.”