Farrer League
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EAST Wagga-Kooringal has shattered any doubt surrounding its Farrer League premiership credentials.
The Hawks are well and truly back in the market following a massive upset win over the previously undefeated Temora at the weekend.
It was an arm wrestle all day at Gumly Oval and the result wasn't decided until after the final siren sounded.
Temora started the game hot and booted three unanswered goals inside seven minutes.
But the home team switched on and began dominating forward play, kicking three of its own to edge in front by quarter time.
The Kangaroos again enjoyed a flurry of goals in the second term as coach Mark Kruger kicked four in six minutes, and Temora shot out to lead by 18 points at the main break.
It was EWK's turn to dominate the scoreboard after half time and the Hawks were just two points behind at the last change.
The fourth quarter was set as a cracking finish and it didn't disappoint.
Temora shot itself in the foot when the ball was kicked out on the full right next to EWK's goals with six minutes left on the clock.
Brocke Argus somehow snapped a banana off the outside of his boot for a goal and it put EWK in front by four points.
The following few minutes was exciting football as Temora battled desperately to get the ball forward and the Hawks cut them off repeatedly.
Young Kangaroos player Rob Krause was awarded a free kick with 20 seconds left on the clock, looked to handball to coach Kruger but was told to go back and kick the set shot.
The siren sounded and Krause had a kick from about 40m out to win the game but it fell short.
EWK won 11.6 (72) to 10.8 (68).
Hawks coach Gavin McMahon was rapt with the result but wasn't getting carried away with the win.
"We came up against the best side in the comp, they're down a couple of key players, but for us it's another step forward," McMahon said.
"Our good footy in the last few weeks has been really good, it's just that the things we were doing wrong were really really bad.
"We were quite comfortable with where we're at but geez it's nice to get a result on the board to justify and get some belief in the group."
"We were quite comfortable with where we're at but geez it's nice to get a result on the board to justify and get some belief in the group."
- Gavin McMahon
Stephen Smith, Stu Brierty and Joe Scott were busy for EWK and racked up plenty of possessions, while key backman Trent Garner did a good job on Temora forward Matt Wallis.
But McMahon's praise was saved for one man - big ruckman Jordon Wood.
"He was sort of a bit of a project for us, he hadn't played footy for a number of years but he was pretty awesome," McMahon said.
For Temora, stand-in captain Josh Hagar was outstanding in the middle and received plenty of help from veteran Damien Ponting.
The Kangaroos will be sweating on the fitness of key defender Mark Breust, who started on EWK forward Marc Geppert but picked up a leg injury in the first quarter and failed to return to the field.