Kangaroos ensured they remain in contact with the top four after their first win over cross-town rivals Southcity in eight years.
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Ending the Bulls unbeaten start the season, Kangaroos held tough to take a 22-18 win at Equex Centre on Saturday.
Southcity were far from their best but their rivals took advantage.
Ben Jeffery’s side had plenty of players missing and the Kangaroos coach was thrilled to come away with the win, just their second through the first six weeks.
“It was a very good win for us,” Jeffery said.
“It gives our club a bit of belief now that can compete and win against the better teams.
“It has been a while since we have beaten Southcity so any win we will take.”
Kangaroos called upon Lachlan Jolliffe and Jackson Newling to make their debuts after needing a reshuffle.
Adam Coote was a late withdrawal forcing Jeffery back into the hooker role, Tristan Dickson to five-eighth, Cameron Andrews to fullback with Newling starting on the wing.
However Jeffery was pleased with how they responded following a number of tight losses so far this season.
“With all the injuries we have got it was good fight from the boys today,” he said.
“I know Southcity didn’t play the type of footy they would have liked against us, but we held the ball and we turned up and defended.
“Sometimes it was looking like we were going to open up, but we managed to get a few mistakes from them which definitely helped us.”
Kangaroos had the better of the early stages before Ben Jeffery darted out of dummy half to open to the scoring in the 12th minute.
Another Jeffery break put Lachlan Cuell over in the corner for the first of his two tries to take Kangaroos out to 16-0 lead.
Pani Manawatu then crossed in the corner to see the premiers trail 16-4 at half-time.
Southcity then got within two points after tries to Cameron Copeland and Jake Dooley to start the second half.
However Kangaroos responded as Hayden Jolliffe crossed to push the scorline back out to 22-14.
Dooley scored his second to get up a grandstand finish with two minutes to play before an error from Mitch Curran ensured a memorable win for Kangaroos.
Southcity coach Kyle McCarthy was appaled with his team’s efforts.
“We are absolutely disgraceful,” McCarthy said.
“Trying to get out of trouble we would knock on and there was no intensity or line speed.
“They out enthused us the whole game.”
Usaia O’Sullivan was sin-binned twice in the game and McCarthy thought his team panicked and got hot headed at times.
