Ag College made it two wins on the trot the first time this season after overcoming a CSU fight back on Saturday.
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CSU found the front after two quick tries to start the second half, but a powerful finished helped Ag College to a 47-24 win at Beres Ellwood Oval.
The university rivalry was on full display once more but three late tries helped seal the win.
Coach Will Mitchell has been disappointed with his team’s lack of maturity throughout the season, but was thrilled with how his team responded under pressure this time around.
“It showed a lot of maturity,” Mitchell said.
“We have found ourselves in that situation against Tumut and Albury and couldn’t get the result so that is what I am most pleased about.
“We managed to turn the momentum, get it swinging towards us and when we went down there we come away with points.”
Ag College had little ball in the first half but still went into the break leading 14-5.
However they were put on the back foot when Ben Hickey and Hamish McMahon scored to start the second half.
A big run by Ben Brooke off a quick throw in helped Ag College get back on top when Jack McIntosh scored on the next phase and minutes later they were in again through Cameron Duffy.
CSU responded through Anthony Wright and got back within a try, but things got tougher when Theo Heinjus was yellow carded.
Aggies took advantage to run in three tries and see them jump into fourth place on the Southern Inland ladder as the halfway point of the season approaches.
Mitchell was pleased by how his team kept responding.
“It was not an easy game by any means, and it was a good game of footy to watch, and I think they took the opportunities they had,” he said. “They executed really well when they needed to and we are lucky in a sense that if we let sides into the game then it is on us but we are good enough to score points when we don’t.
“We are starting to believe that now.”
Gerard McTaggart scored the first of Aggies three tries to finish off the game.
After missing out on the big win against Wagga City last week, Mitchell thought his experience really stood out while Brooke was strong in the forwards.
With Baden Power playing for the second time this season, CSU showed plenty of glimpses of their potential out wide.
They will be looking for a strong performance against Albury next week while Ag College face a tough trip to Leeton with the premiers coming off their first defeat since 2016.
