A four-goal blitz straight after half-time helped North Wagga power to a 29-point win over top-three rivals The Rock-Yerong Creek on Saturday.
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The 13.8 (86) to 8.9 (57) win at McPherson Oval was Saints' sixth in eight games, taking them to outright second on the ladder as they closed out their first half of the season.
"To beat a top-three side you've got to bring a four-quarter effort and I thought we did that really well," coach Cayden Winter said.
"In terms of intensity it was probably our highest for the year for the four quarters. They did get a bit of a roll-on midway through that second quarter but I was really pleased the boys were able to wrestle it back and get it back on our terms."
Inspired by the run of Xavier Lyons out of half-back, and the energy of Corey Watt and Josh Thompson in the middle and up forward, North Wagga had too many contributors for the 'Pies to contain after an even first half.
TRYC had started strongly and had plenty of time forward in the first quarter without being able to make it pay and they went to the first break down by five points.
That was the margin at half-time too after a see-sawing second term. North Wagga clearly dominated for the first 15 minutes but the Magpies got on top in the middle for the final 10 minutes and went to the break with momentum and within a straight kick of the lead.
Saints weren't about to make the same mistake again. They opened the third term with four straight goals in eight minutes. One was helped by a 50-metre free to Corey Watt and Daniel Jordan's fourth goal was from a free kick.
But they were after a piece of brilliance from Kane Flack, who made a big impact in his one-off game from Albury Tigers, and a big pressure act from captain Kirk Hamblin which led directly to Jordan's third goal.
It was one of three major plays from the former coach that led directly to scoring shots for the Saints.
And this time when TRYC loomed (again with back-to-back goals from Joey Kerin, as he'd done in the second), North Wagga didn't drop their intensity. And Thompson cashed in on their efforts with a classy goal to ensure a four-goal margin at the last break.
The 'Pies wasted two chances early in the last to bring it back to three goals and North Wagga immediately made them pay.
They went down the ground beautifully through Watt, Lachlan Hart, Josh Campbell and finally Ben Keith for a good team goal before a Luke Mauger miracle kick from the ground pushed the margin out to an uncatchable six goals.
With Cayden Winter (knee) still coaching from the sidelines and their best midfielder of recent weeks, Elliott Winter, gone by half-time with a cut below the eye, it was an impressive effort.
Ky Hanlon was superb in the ruck, and iced his game with a mark up forward and the final goal of the game but North Wagga's defence was superb. Although Kerin finished with four, he wasn't given much leeway and Dean Biermann was well-held by Lachie Johnson.
"I don't think they get enough credit, our back six. There's some new names in there but they're playing really well," Winter said.
The coach is thrilled with their first half, particularly the way his new-look team has come together.
"I'm really happy with where we are, six-and-two at the midway point, and happy with our ability to gel," he said.
"When we lost to East Wagga (in round two) we went into our shell a bit in that game. After that, we haven't so in terms of knowing that we can play our best footy even when the chips are down, that's the best thing."
Like North Wagga with Flack, the Magpies were boosted by the presence of Ovens and Murray League footballer Zac Brain (Wodonga Bulldogs). The son of TRYC premiership-winning coach Greg Brain looked lively and is a handy in for two weeks after Cooper Diessel's broken collarbone.
Saints' pressure closed down TRYC's big guns but Riley Budd kept trying to give them something, Will Adams worked hard and full-back Dylan Cook made Jordan work for his goals when it wasn't coming in on a platter.
The 'Pies drop to fourth after their second loss of the season but have last-placed Temora next week to complete their first half. Round 10 against East Wagga-Kooringal will be the big test of their top-three credentials.
Full-time:
North Wagga 2.2, 5.5, 10.6, 13.8 (86)
TRYC Magpies 1.3, 4.6, 6.6, 8.9 (57)
Goals: (North Wagga) Daniel Jordan 4, Josh Thompson 2, Nathan Dennis 2, Kane Flack 1, Corey Watt 1, Ben Keith 1, Luke Mauger 1, Ky Hanlon 1; (TRYC) Joseph Kerin 4, Joseph Hancock 2, Zachery Brain 1, Dean Biermann 1.
Best: (North Wagga) Corey Watt, Xavier Lyons, Ky Hanlon, Josh Thompson, Sean Keith, Lachlan Johnson; (TRYC) Joseph Kerin, Dean Biermann, Harrison White , Ryan Kirkwood, Zachery Brain, Michael Cummins.
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