Controlled Young take crucial win in the slop

In what was a crucial game for both clubs, the Cherrypickers adapted much better to the sloppy surface to bring up their second win of the season.

After a win in round one, Young couldn't match it with the top three sides but delivered when they needed to.

After struggling to maintain a strong start against Brothers last week, coach Nick Hall was pleased with how they controlled the clash.

"I don't think we were ever in jeopardy," Hall said.

"Both sides struggled to hold the ball in the atrocious conditions but I thought we controlled it better.

"We challenged more and even in the conditions I think we really tried to play some footy, we threw it around a bit, got to the edges and there was some pretty enterprising footy - it wasn't just tuck it under your arm and go.

"I was really happy we did that and there were moments it cost us some field position but I think we knuckled down when that happened."

With Josh McCrone guiding the side in his first Group Nine game in 15 years, and a strong platform from their forward the Cherrypickers had by far the better of the attacking opportunities throughout.

It took Young 18 minutes to get on the board as Jake Veney crossed just before the hail arrived.

John Grant doubled their advantage five minutes before the break.

Kangaroos winger Hamish Starr thought he had put the Wagga side on the board just after the break but it wasn't to be.

Nic Hall, who moved to fullback with captain Tom Bush sidelined with a bout of food poisoning, slid over to put Kangaroos out of reach with 19 remaining.

Josh Ayers then capped off his first start for the club when he forced his way over with five to play.

Keeping their rivals scoreless was one of the highlights for Hall.

"They didn't really threaten from their end of the field," he said. "They had their chances and we had to be good but for us the nil scoreline was really important.

"I was really happy with that and off the back of three losses we needed to have a win.

"We will take some confidence, we are getting better every week and while that probably wasn't our best game it was more about the conditions.

"As a coach I saw some really pleasing things with the way we worked with each and the decisions we made."

It sets up another important clash at Alfred Oval for Young who host Southcity next Sunday, who loom as the biggest threat to keeping them out of finals.

"There are opportunities out there for us," Hall said.

Kangaroos have bye before their final clash with Brothers but the loss has effectively ended their chances of snaring fourth.

McCrone, Jayke Hogan and Kye Tiedemann all didn't play out the game but are all not expected to miss the clash with the Bulls.

Mick Dodson also returns from suspension.

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