It took a goal from the last kick of the night to seal a six-point win for the Goannas in their pre-season trial against North Wagga at Mangoplah Sportsground on Friday night.

Schoolboy Bailey Jones kicked a goal on the run to give MCUE a hard-fought win in their first pre-season trial game of the year, 7.4 (46) to 5.10 (40).

Rowe was disappointed with the overall performance from his team but took plenty out of the hit-out.

"We performed under the level we wanted to perform at," Rowe said.

"I was disappointed with some aspects of the game but am certainly not disheartened going forward.

"I was really happy with what we learnt from the game."

Dom Bunyan, Jacob Taylor, Tim Smith, James Scott and Jake Hindmarsh all made their first appearances for the Goannas and impressed.

Paddy Griffin and Wes Clark were two existing MCUE players that excited Rowe with their games.

For North Wagga, it was an impressive turnaround less than a week after failing to score in their first trial game against Wagga Tigers.

The Saints, boosted by some key inclusions, turned up far hungrier and upstaged the Goannas with their intensity and attack on the ball.

Canberra-based recruit Blake Chapman missed the game for MCUE with a toe injury, while Rowe, George Kendall, Ryan Price and Jack Collins also sat the game out.

The Goannas will front up for their second trial game of the pre-season on Thursday night when they tackle Ovens and Murray League club North Albury.

"They're going to provide us with a really stiff test but I'm getting a lot of confidence from the positives and development on the training track," Rowe said.

Meantime, Coolamon opened their campaign with a win over East Wagga-Kooringal at Kindra Park on Friday night.

The Hoppers and Hawks went at it over three quarters of first grade and it was the home team that were up, 8.11 (59) to 4.6 (30).

Charles Sturt University provided some joy for the Farrer League clubs with a win over Narrandera in their trial game.

The Bushpigs won by about 20 points at Narrandera Sportsground. Louis Miller kicked five goals for CSU, while new recruit Sam Barrow shone.

Wagga Tigers also continued their strong pre-season with a dominant win over an under-strength Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock.

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