The 10.10 (70) to 4.8 (32) result was the Saints’ ninth straight win, giving them the enviable record of a win over every other side in the league.

In contrast for the Hawks, it was a third loss on the trot and was again compounded by injuries, with midfield enforcer Luke Cuthbert going off with a shoulder injury and youngster Fynn de Bono doing an ankle. 

North Wagga lost coach Kirk Hamblin before half-time with a dislocated finger, which broke the skin. While he was at hospital, assistant Lachlan Steward was satisfied with their ability to claim sweet revenge for a round three upset at Gumly.

“Even coming into it, all day everyone was saying… when these two sides play, it’s just a battle, it’s always a battle,” Steward said. 

“Our response in being able to rise to the occasion when the chips were down (was good). They were coming back at us and we were able to apply enough pressure to swing the game back to our advantage.”

A quick and open first quarter saw North Wagga seize control, taking a 21-point lead into the first break. Holding the Hawks’ goalless, they should have led by more but failed to take reward for their dominance, including key forward Daniel Jordan having three misses in a row.

But the second and third quarters were a reminder that the rivalry between these two clubs is more than just talk, as EWK worked their way into a game that had looked to be getting right away when Cayden Winter kicked the Saints’ fourth goal just after quarter-time for a 27-point lead. 

Nick Hull started to leave his mark on the game setting up Brocke Argus and then finding one himself as the Hawks kicked the next three. Three behinds to start the third quarter saw the gap narrowed to nine points and the arm wrestle continued.

Late in the third quarter momentum shifted North Wagga’s way again and Lachie Highfield soccered one through for a 15-point margin. 

The game was in the bag early in the fourth as Jed Winter and then Jordan, with two goals after his four behinds, had them out to a 34-point lead. 

“Our message at three quarter time was we want to out-pressure them for the last quarter and eventually we’ll get some space and we’ll kick some goals,” Steward said.

Ned Mortimer had another big game across half-back for North Wagga while Luke Walsh was also good at the back and Brayden Skeers provided some run. Jake May and Cayden Winter were dangerous through the middle. 

Tom Pocock and Jarrod Turner were good for the Hawks while Chris Jackson and Brocke Argus threatened up forward at times.  

It wasn’t North Wagga’s best win but Steward was more than happy to take it. 

“At the start of the day, you’d take six goals. I think we wasted a couple of opportunities early which would’ve opened up a bit more of a lead,” Steward said.

He thought the pressure during the game was part of the reason for a drop in their skill level but knows there’s plenty of room for improvement.

“We’re always looking for the perfect option where sometimes it’s not about the perfect option it’s more about getting it in there, playing the percentages going forward – getting in deep and getting our crumbers around it,” Steward said. 

“Too many times we used it around in the middle of the ground and then ended up turning it over and it hurt that way sometimes.”

EWK remain fourth, one win ahead of CSU and one behind Temora, where they head next week.

North Wagga are on top of the ladder, and take on the Northern Jets next week.