Temora forward Matt Harpley finished with a six-goal haul against The Rock-Yerong Creek on Saturday as the Kangaroos returned to a top three position, while putting another nail into the coffin of the Magpies' finals hopes.
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The 10.12 (72) to 8.6 (54) win was set up in the first term at Nixon Park when the Pies were unable to kick a goal into the wind, and trailed by 19 at quarter-time.
They made some headway in the second term and were within four points early in the third quarter before the Roos re-established a three-goal margin, as Harpley kicked three in a quarter, and maintained it.
"I suppose we grinded it out. It was one of those days where it was very hard skill-wise. It was very windy," Temora coach Jake Wooden said.
"Our work rate in the last quarter was pleasing and we played smart footy into the wind, which we had to do."
The win was a return to form for Temora after their upset loss at Coleambally last week. As well as Harpley's half-a-dozen, which hinted at his continuing development and confidence, the return of key forward Jacob Turner and midfielder Sam Jensen was valuable.
"When (TRYC) came back in the second quarter, he did some really good things that helped turn the play, and he had three important clearances in the third quarter and two led straight to goals," Wooden said.
Jensen and Kieran Shea worked well under ruckman Joe Tegart who also caught the coach's eye in his second game at the club, in a promising sign five weeks out from finals.
While Temora prepare for a top-three encounter against Marrar next week, things look a little more grim for their old arch-rivals.
TRYC sit eighth, two wins behind the Northern Jets and Coleambally, and one behind CSU.
They'll get four points for the bye in the final round. Before then, they play North Wagga, Barellan, the Bushpigs and East Wagga-Kooringal. With four straight wins they'll be a chance but anything less is going to rely heavily on other results falling in their favour.
Pies midfielder Jim Carroll was a handful for Temora at times through the middle while Tim Sullivan and Tom Yates led well and Jake Gunning kicked two goals.
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