The Bombers brought their kicking boots and their pressure game to have an injury-troubled Hawks on the back foot throughout a commanding 14.3 (87) to to 8.8 (56) win.

"That's something we base our game around, and when they turn the ball over, we run and use our speed to slingshot," Marrar coach Shane Lenon said.

"But your pressure and your ability to get the ball back when you haven't got it and tackling around the stoppages... we were strong in that area, which is crucial on a day like today."

The 31-point victory continued Marrar's happy history at Gumly, where they've now won four in a row.

Not since 2016 have they headed out of East Wagga on the wrong side of the scoreboard and when they booted five goals to none in the opening quarter, the Hawks had fair warning they were going to have to find something special.

That looked tough after early injuries to Caleb Wild (knee) and Tim Smith (ankle) and, worryingly, the key casualties continued to mount for the home side.

Forward Jarrad Boumann and midfielder Ben Absolum suffered hamstring injuries in the third quarter, and Jarrod Turner (shoulder) also joined the injured list although he and Smith courageously played out the game to keep 18 on the field.

The Hawks had threatened in the second, with Turner kicking two goals in two minutes early and Boumann and Ben Cadzow on the board.

But crucially, Zach Walgers made the most of an opportunity for Marrar. It was the only goal kicked at the southern end in the first three quarters and kept EWK two goals behind.

They struggled to match Marrar's relentless energy and the Bombers made sure they got maximum return when they had momentum, particularly in the third quarter, as they opened up a 39-point lead.

Star forward James Lawton came into his own, kicking three of his four goals. He capitalised on clean Marrar clearances and Hugh Templeton and Toby Lawler also got on the board as Marrar punished EWK for errors and turnovers up the ground.

The undermanned Hawks rallied in the last with Alex Rogers getting his hands on the ball in the middle to send them forward, and Jeremy Piercy and Ben Cadzow lively up forward but they were only limiting the damage.

And Marrar's three goals at the other end were invaluable.

A Lawton screamer led directly to a Sam Emery goal - which put them up by 46 points early in the last - and Templeton (3.1) ensured they closed out the game strongly.

"I thought goals against the wind were probably worth three goals," Lenon said.

They didn't need to be. Marrar won that stat 4-0.

But Lenon stopped well short of appreciating that they may have played themselves into premiership favouritism with a convincing win against an opposition he's rated highly.

"Leave me out of that. It's a week at a time and it's not for me to say," Lenon said.

"It was a real team effort, everyone played their role and I was really happy with our pressure and teamwork.

"We'll just keep chipping away. We'll enjoy the night and focus on Coleambally next week."

A third of the way into the season, Marrar hold down top spot with a superior percentage to The Rock-Yerong Creek who also have just one loss in six games.

While the midfield effort was important, where Walgers and Jackson Moye were strong, and Lawton led their forward presence, the Bombers were very strong in defence.

Full-back Liam James has impressed the club in his first season and didn't give anything away again.

"LJ down back, he's getting better and better every week. He hardly lost a one-on-one, he's marking well and winning the footy," Lenon said.

Harry Reynolds at centre-half-back also had another strong game in a team of contributors.

The Hawks have to pick themselves up from their second loss in for a trip to Barellan next week.

On a difficult day for the Hawks, Kyle North-Flanagan worked hard in the ruck and midfielders Ethan Andrews and Harry Fitzsimmons tireless.

It was a particularly tough Saturday for the club with a serious injury in reserve grade to Chris Thwaites.

Full-time:

Marrar 5.1, 6.2, 11.3, 14.3 (87)

EWK 0.2, 4.3, 4.4, 8.8 (56)

Goals: (Marrar) James Lawton 4, Hugh Templeton 3, Rhys Mooney 2, Zach Walgers 2, Toby Lawler 1, Sam Emery 1, Jackson Moye 1; (EWK) Ben Cadzow 3, Jarrod Turner 2, Jarrad Boumann 1, Alex Rogers 1, Jeremy Piercy 1.

Best: (Marrar) Liam James, Zach Walgers, Jackson Moye, James Lawton, Toby Lawler, Hugh Templeton; (EWK) Harry Fitzsimmons, Ethan Andrews, Nick Curran, Kyle North-Flanagan, Luke Cuthbert, Alex Rogers.

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