MCUE puts premiership stake in ground in dominant top-of-table display over Lions | Photos

The Goannas issued a huge statement with a 14.9 (93) to 6.6 (42) win over Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong at Mangoplah, and the scary thing is they feel there's plenty of improvement to come.

Full forward Trent Castles defied the tough windy conditions to boot nine goals. Put in perspective, that's more than any other Riverina League team could manage combined on Saturday.

He now has 21 goals from three matches and the Lions were powerless to stop him, especially in the third term where he booted five goals.

MCUE set up the win with six unanswered first quarter goals with a gale at their back, before sealing the match by locking things down in the second term where both teams were goalless.

A six-goals-to-one third quarter sealed the result in the battle of the unbeaten teams, before the Lions saved some face with five goals in the last term.

Rowe said their ability to lock down the game against the wind in the second quarter was just as important as the attacking football they put together in the first term.

In conditions where execution was difficult, MCUE's skills were superb and they have already beaten the three teams rated their biggest challengers in the Lions, Coolamon and Wagga Tigers.

"Our best footy was in the first (quarter), but our toughest and most resilient footy was played in the second and both were of equal importance," Rowe said.

"All the talk pre game wasn't niceties and just being polite, we rate Ganmain very highly. Any time you play like that against a team you rate and respect, you're very happy with that."

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Rowe said his team's displays just five rounds into the season had exceeded his expectations, especially given their high number of recruits, but ominously believes they've got plenty of improvement left.

"I think we've probably played some footy that's a bit ahead of where I thought (we'd be)," he said.

"That's not an arrogant comment, the footy we're playing so early is very impressive. But like every team we think we've got genuine improvement to go and we won't stop until we're at our best.

"Yes, we're a bit further ahead than what we thought, but we're not going to sit here and be idle."

The Goannas' back-line was also impressive, led by the likes of Hunter Lloyd and Ryan Price.

Lions coach Sam Martyn, who missed the game with a quad injury, said MCUE had put a stake in the ground.

"They showcased why they're the best team in the competition," he said.

"They had a solid plan to stop Riley (Corbett, full forward), (Goannas ruckman) Sam De Sousa played a vital role in that."

MCUE 6.3 6.5 12.7 14.9 (93) def GGGM 0.0 0.2 1.2 6.6 (42)

GOALS: MCUE - Trent Castles 9, Ethan Schiller 3, Max Hanrahan, Jacob Whitley; GGGM - Matthew Knagge, Thomas Anderson, Aaron Proctor, Kirk Mahon, Riley Corbett, Kai Watts.

BEST: MCUE - Trent Castles, Ryan Price, Nick Collins, Samuel De Sousa, Hunter Lloyd, Brayden Ambler; GGGM - Jacob Olsson, Jesse Lander, Thomas Sase, Kirk Mahon, Thomas Anderson, Ben Walsh

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