Temora blasted into the new Farrer League season with a 10-point comeback victory over occasional nemesis Charles Sturt University on Saturday with an effort that deserves its own countdown.
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Five goals (to one) in the final quarter.
Four goals to key forward Matt Harpley in his return from injury.
Three goal blitzes to start the last two quarters (and three 50m penalties in a row for one).
Two weekends off to savour the victory.
One word from the coach to describe it:
"Gutsy," Jake Wooden said.
"Gutsy from the boys, just not to give up, to keep their nerve in that last half. Every contest was so crucial in that last quarter and I'm just proud of the boys that they didn't give up."
There could be a sour post script with midfielder Rob Krause reported for rough conduct after crashing into CSU's Lachy Moore who was going back with the flight of the ball to mark in the fourth quarter.
Moore was sore but returned late while Krause was yellow carded and reported.
He'd been one of the Roos' best as they fought back from 22 points down at half-time, and 17 points in arrears at the last break, for a rewarding 13.9 (87) to 11.11 (77) victory, avenging last year's loss at the same venue.
As importantly for Wooden, who missed the game along with midfielders Kieran Shea and Sam Jensen and backman Angus McRae, it's a positive start ahead of a club bye and the Easter break.
"Oh, massive. Otherwise we'd be sitting on it for two weeks thinking, 'bloody hell'," he said.
"I'm just so happy - to not give up was a big thing. CSU were good. When they got the ball they looked dangerous, they looked like they were going to score and looked a bit fitter than us but we stuck to our guns with our pressure."
The Bushpigs were down by four points at the first break, but kicked six goals in the second quarter to seemingly take the game by the scuff of the neck.
However Jacob Turner announced his return to Temora with class, with two good marks and goals straight after half-time to bring Temora back into it before Colby Poole capitalised on CSU ill discipline, lapping up 150m in penalties to put his side within a kick.
CSU halted the comeback for the rest of the quarter and when Tom Stapleton kicked two goals late in the quarter, Temora was three goals down again.
However, their midfielders rose to the challenge, dominating the middle for the first 10 minutes of the last quarter for Harpley to kick his fourth and Tim Hol to cap his strong game, powering in with two goals in two minutes for the Kangaroos to lead by two points.
"At half-time I put it on the boys in the middle that Rex (ruckman Chris Stacey) was doing the hard work winning the taps but we weren't winning the clearances but to their credit,the midfield stepped right up, gave us first use and opportunity which was good," Wooden said.
"I think we've got a dangerous forward line when we can get it in one on one to Turner and Harps (Harpley) and Strop (Jason Reid) up there. But when we move it slow, we can be in a bit of a trouble."
CSU trailed by only a point after a rushed behind but the game then threatened to erupt after Krause's bump on Moore with just under 14 minutes on the clock. However, Temora were next to score, getting out to a seven-point lead through Will Reinhold.
Stapleton ensured a nailbiting finish with his fourth goal for CSU but Temora held their composure with captain Rob Grant and Nathan Stimson both taking marks across half-back to defuse raids and launch counter attacks. Poole finished off one with his second goal and Reid completed the other with a nice grab (but a behind from close range) but the Roos held on.
Temora were best served by Stacey and Grant as well as Krause, Hol, Stimson and Jeffery Mannell while Harpley and Turner were both a real handful at times.
They take on Coleambally next in three weeks while CSU head to Barellan next Saturday.
As well as Stapleton, Angus Blackwood and Max Hanrahan led the Bushpigs' effort.
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