Charles Sturt University missed two late chances to snatch victory from the Saints and, instead of being the second team in a row to steal a last-second win, were left lamenting what might have been after a two-point loss.

The final scoreline, 6.14 (50) to 7.6 (48) tells the story: North Wagga almost robbed themselves. But it was two missed opportunities that ultimately cost CSU.

With a couple of minutes to play, Brayden Ambler missed a shot from 25m out and virtually in front after being handed a 50m penalty. While the siren sounded as Max Hanrahan took his shot from 45m out, on an angle, but it went wide.

"I thought the boys held their nerve well in the last quarter," relieved North Wagga coach, Kirk Hamblin, said.

"Obviously CSU had a few opportunities late to put us away. But we had 20 scoring shots and didn't make the most of our opportunities.

"I keep saying to the boys, everything we're doing, everything we've worked on is going really well. Our KPIs are up, we're moving the ball, we're just not finishing well. Once that clicks I think we'll be going twice as good."

The Saints weren't helped by losing forward Dayne Hancock to a knee injury five minutes into the game. It meant shifting Troy Curtis forward, where he did well, but disrupted their set-up at the back.

It had been an exciting, quick and open first quarter, with the lead changing four times as CSU kicked five goals to three to lead by nine points at the first break.

That first quarter gave no hint of the arm wrestle to come, as only five more goals were added, by both sides combined, for the rest of the game.

North Wagga dominated the second term, keeping CSU scoreless, but kicked just two goals to lead by only five points at half-time.

In fact, there was more than two quarters of football between the Saints' fifth goal (to James Morris early in the second quarter, to put his side back in front) and their sixth and last (to Troy Curtis, 11 minutes into the fourth quarter, to establish a seven-point lead).

Both were threaded through from acute angles. But in between, they kicked nine behinds and conceded a goal against a Bushpigs outfit determined to make them pay.

Three times in the third quarter and once in the last, CSU drew level but could never get back in front.

A Sam Barrow goal midway through the last, after leading beautifully and being found by Lachie Moore, had them within a point until Saints took their tally of behinds to 14 for the game.

Up by 3 points with little time left, it had round three written all over it - when East Wagga-Kooringal went up the ground and snatched victory with a goal after-the-siren.

Deja vu was avoided - just - for the Saints, who hold onto 3^rd spot.

But it hurt for CSU, who also let a game slip in round one when they led Temora at half-time and three-quarter-time only to fall short. They sit fifth ahead of the Jets and Coleambally on percentage but face EWK next week. The Jets have a bye and the Blues take on Barellan.

Moore had plenty of fine moments trying to spark a win for CSU, who had a wide spread of contributors, while Ben Alexander was dangerous out of defence again for the Saints, where Luke Walsh was also strong and midfielders Cayden Winter and Jake May got plenty of footy.

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