The Kangaroos recovered from a goalless first quarter at Nixon Park on Saturday, and a 22-point deficit at half-time, to produce a 9.11 (65) to 7.7 (49) win.

The 16-point win tightened their grip on third spot on the ladder, opening up a two-game break on EWK and Charles Sturt University with four rounds to play.

Coach Jake Wooden was relieved rather than excited after they avoided a third loss in four games but was pleased with the improvement in attitude.

“I think we showed that today. It didn’t go our way in the first half but we didn’t give up,” Wooden said.

“We just had to hang in there, which the boys did. I’m proud of the boys. We needed that win to get us back on the horse, a bit of belief in the group and confidence. It’s going to do a lot for us I think.”

Having kicked just one goal in the first half, and only four by three-quarter-time, Temora more than doubled their tally when it mattered, finding five last-quarter goals to seal victory. 

The first quarter was reasonably even, although EWK’s Chris Jackson kicked two goals where Temora found three points. But the visitors got on top in the second term, including two goals in two minutes to Nick Hull and Brocke Argus also threatening.

The sight of star midfielder Chris Gordon hobbling to the bench early in the third was ominous for the injury-hit Hawks, just after Temora’s Lachlan Leary had kicked their second goal of the game, closing the margin to 16 points. 

That was the beginning of the end, as Temora clawed their way to within three points, having kicked eight behinds. 

Hull’s third goal late in the third term suggested the Hawks might hold back the tide with an eight-point lead at the last change.

But some outstanding efforts at the back for Temora, including a brilliant goal-saving tackle by Angus McRae early in the fourth term, and the rub of the green on some of the close calls, saw the home side keep coming.

Sam Jensen kicked the first goal of the last quarter to have them within a point. Within a couple of minutes, Matt Wallis kicked his second and Temora led for the first time all day. Ten minutes into the last quarter and Rob Krause snapped to have them 11 points in front. 

The Hawks threatened again in the middle of the last quarter but Argus’s second goal was met with a reply from Mark Breust as Temora’s key forwards held their grabs and the Roos held on.

Despite EWK threatening for five minutes late, Temora sealed the win when Wallis held another mark late and kicked a goal on the siren for the slightly-flattering final score.

Wooden knew it wasn’t their best effort but it was the effort that counted.

“It wasn’t pretty. Our skills and our workrate in that first half was very sloppy,” Wooden said. “They outnumbered us at a lot of contests so we had a lot of things to do at half-time to turn it around. But we knew our best was good enough. It was just a matter of doing it.”

McRae was superb for Temora, continuing his fine season, while Chris Stacey and captain Charlie Vallance were also strong at the back. Wallis’ three goals were important and Krause also had a fine game in the middle. 

Jack Irvine spent the whole game up forward with the Roos cautious about tight hamstrings. He was dangerous but could’ve been deadly had he kicked better than 1.6.

Hull was superb for the Hawks and Argus also dangerous up forward or through the middle while Tom Pocock effected plenty of turnovers across halfback. It was no lack of effort but too many errors that proved costly in the finish.