Bouncing back from a flat first-up effort against The Rock-Yerong Creek last week, EWK looked a different side in the local derby at McPherson Oval bringing plenty of intensity, if not necessarily polish, on their way to an 8.12 (60) to 7.5 (47) win.

It was a seesawing game for three quarters before the Hawks controlled much of the final term although failing to take their chances when they had momentum allowed Saints to stay in the hunt to the end.

Key target Jarrad Boumann impressed with four goals as the Hawks improved their ability to find the full-forward on the back of a stronger midfield performance and effort down back.

"We definitely provided better energy that's for sure and what I was happy with was our defensive effort," Hard said.

"Even that last quarter the boys were relentless with their pressure and that's something we wanted to correct this week so we're really happy with that.

"It probably wasn't the prettiest game of footy but we stayed in the fight long enough to give ourselves a chance."

Boumann had the first four scoring shots of the game (2.2) and the Hawks might have had four goals instead of a 14-point lead inside 10 minutes.

But North Wagga responded to close out the quarter one point down, and then took the lead early in the second when Nathan Dennis kicked his second.

The Hawks only had four behinds to show for their next 10 minutes on top but Ben Cadzow wrested back the lead, his two goals before half-time giving the visitors a six-point break.

Saints forward Daniel Jordan squared it up with his second goal just after half-time and his side powered back into the contest with four unanswered scores.

The last, Corey Watt's goal after crumbing a contest, gave them their biggest lead of the game but the eight-point break was nowhere near enough when that passage proved to be their last sustained period on top.

Dominant through the middle the Hawks kicked the next four goals, including two long bombs from out wide to Boumann and Luke Cuthbert, and led by 17 just after three-quarter-time.

It was more than enough to protect in the final term for their first win of the season, even if they didn't press home their advantage.

"It was probably frustrating that we had a chance to get a better lead at times. That's no disrespect to North Wagga but I thought we controlled the play but just didn't capitalise," Hard said.

"But we're learning about each other and they're quality opposition."

In a strong team performance, Kyle North-Flanagan rucked well and helped their midfielders get on top, Alex Rogers was superb across half-back and went through the middle and up forward, Harry Fitzsimmons was in everything and Nathan Scott was very composed again down back.

Ben Absolum was strong but had an early shower with a hamstring strain and is likely to miss next week against Temora while Connor Quade and North-Flanagan copped whacks to the nose. With Brocke Argus cramping up and North-Flanagan also off the ground, they finished without a bench.

North Wagga were outplayed through the middle putting their defence under pressure but they defused plenty of Hawks raids and ensured they stayed in the game, despite looking a little disjointed at times. They head to Coleambally next week for a crunch encounter.

Full-time:

EWK 2.2, 4.7, 7.9, 8.12 (60)

North Wagga 2.1, 4.1, 6.4, 7.5 (47)

Goals: (EWK) J Boumann 4, B Cadzow 2, B Argus, L Cuthbert; (North Wagga) D Jordan 2, N Dennis 2, C Watt, C Winter, S Barnes.

Best: (EWK) A Rogers, N Scott, K North-Flanagan, H Fitzsimmons, T Pocock, R Bourne; (North Wagga) E Winter, S Keith, K Hanlon, J Flood, C Winter, L Mauger.

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