The Diesels made it five wins from six games to start their campaign after taking a 40-18 win over Gundagai on Saturday.

There was little between the two sides in the first half before Junee went to a different level in the second half at Laurie Daley Oval.

Captain Daniel Foley was impressed by how his team responded to the challenge set down by the Tigers in the first half.

“It was definitely a grind in the first half but we come out in the second half and out enthused them I think,” Foley said. “A bit of energy really in the second half blew them off the park.”

Hooker Hayden Diggins led the way, scoring a hat-trick in the win.

Gundagai took a 12-10 lead into the break courtesy of two tries to James Curgenven.

However Junee got the jump on them in the second half to go out to a 26-12 lead midway through the first half.

Tyron Gorman scored to get Gundagai back within eight points before Diggins completed his hat-trick and Damon Jackson bagged a late double to seal the big win.

Foley was impressed with the team’s ball security.

“We actually managed to complete our sets really well in the second half and held onto the ball,” he said.

“We actually got a chance to throw it around a bit and show what we can do when we hold onto it.”

Junee face a tough month with games against fellow top four sides Cootamundra, Southcity and Brothers plus Kangaroos to come.

Foley believes the win over Gundagai will put them in good stead. 

“We have big challenges for the next couple of weeks coming so we are just going to keep trying to build and improve,” he said.

“Hopefully we can go over there and knock them (Cootamundra) off as well.”

Gundagai have now only won two of their first six games and sit two wins outside the top four.

Things will need to turn around in a hurry for the beaten grand finalists for the last two years.