CSU Bushpigs respond with resilience to secure big win at Barellan

More importantly, the Bushpigs showed they're not short on resilience, bouncing back from a blowout loss to Marrar last week to deliver a powerful four-quarter performance against Barellan.

Kicking 12 goals to one after half-time, CSU charged to a 17.12 (114) to 5.5 (35) victory, pleasing coach Travis Cohalan as they made their way into the top five.

"Our pressure and our effort and work-rate dropped dramatically in the last quarter last week so we were pretty happy today that in the second half we were able to run away from them a bit," Cohalan said.

"It was only five points at half-time and to be able to kick seven goals in the last quarter was really pleasing for the boys and will hopefully give us a lot of confidence moving forward."

It was a two-point lead at the first break but by three-quarter time, the Bushpigs had dashed Barellan hopes of a long-awaited win at home, as the Two Blues went almost six goals behind.

CSU big man Andrew Dickins was superb for his side again but Harry Turner wasn't far behind, kicking four goals in a memorable senior debut.

"Harry and Sam Severin were both playing their first first grade games," Cohalan said.

"Harry was playing forward flank and his pressure was enormous. He was rewarded for that tackling pressure with four goals, and big Sam played full-forward and went really well.

"To have a win for those guys too, in their first first grade game, was really impressive."

Max Findlay and Gus Blackwood also chimed in with three goals each and Cayleb Dunne-Argus continued his superb season with another strong game.

CSU's first win, at Coleambally, was built on a flying start.

This, their second, showed they'd learnt a thing or two, after dropping their heads against Marrar last week and conceding nine goals in the final term.

"It was the response we wanted from last week when we ran into a really quality team in Marrar and were completely outplayed," Cohalan said.

"We didn't think we acquitted ourselves as well as we could've (last week) so we really wanted a response from the training track through to Saturday.

"We prepared a lot better and we're just happy with the way the boys bounced back, especially a young team."

Wayde Archibald is in line to return from an ankle injury next week against the Jets, and CSU are set to have a few selection options with Cam Humphries and Jack Mason also available.

The 79-point victory was the club's biggest win since the final round of 2018 (when they beat Coleambally by 92 points).

But it was a setback for Barellan and compounded by injuries, including a broken wrist to Aidan Walsh.

Kabe Stockton, Matt Irvin and the ageless Jeff Mickan gave their all.

Full-time:

CSU 3.2, 5.3, 10.9, 17.12 (114)

Barellan 3.0, 4.4, 5.4, 5.5 (35)

Goals: (CSU) Harry Turner 4, Max Findlay 3, Angus Blackwood 3, Benjamin Browning 3, Grant Daly 1, Sam Severin 1,Cayleb Dunne-Argus 1, Harry Wakefield 1; (Barellan) Timothy Sidebottom 2, Matthew Wells 2, Sam Foley 1.

Best: (CSU) Andrew Dickins, Harry Turner, Cayleb Dunne-Argus, Benjamin Browning, Connor Kelly, Jordyn McCulloch; (Barellan) Kabe Stockton, Jeff Mickan, Matthew Irvin, Sam Foley, Noah Forbutt, Matthew Wells.

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