Sunday's 9.6 (60) to 7.12 (54) win at Coolamon ticked off two key boxes - their first win against a top five side, and their first victory away from Maher Oval.

And they did it with guts as another temporary lapse from the Hoppers again cost them dearly.

Needing to win to stay just one game outside the top five, Turvey Park brought the required desperation from the outset in boggy conditions at Kindra Park.

With scores level early in the third term a beautiful set shot from the boundary from Josh Buchanan gave the Hoppers a one-goal advantage.

But the Bulldogs' run off halfback eventually told with a four-goal burst allowing them to build a 20-point lead at three-quarter time.

Coolamon came home strongly with the only two goals of the last quarter through Jeremy Maslin, but it proved too late.

Lapses in games have cost third-placed Coolamon at times this year, now just a game ahead of Wagga Tigers and Collingullie-Glenfield Park after their respective victories on Saturday.

One of the Bulldogs' third quarter goals came through Lachlan Leary marking a set shot from a teammate uncontested on the goal-line, while for another Jack Haggar waltzed untouched through the midfield to finish from 45 metres out.

A highlight for the Bulldogs was the fact a number of their youngsters stood up, with Luke Fellows outstanding in the centre, Glanvill up forward and Angus Curry provided pace and toughness around the ball.

"We played wet weather footy right from the start well, we looked to get it forward at all costs early," Bulldogs coach Michael Mazzocchi said.

"During the third quarter our inside 50s went up by ten, when we started to surge it forward and give our forwards an opportunity. With Baxter Wallett and Billy Glanvill presenting and Mitch Ward, the forwards played really well.

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"You could see our fitness when we were able to run both ways (in the third quarter) and it felt like Coolamon was coming off that a little bit.

"Our fitness stood out, and a couple of inclusions like Angus Curry helped. Pace and hardness are things you can't coach into guys, and he added that.

"These are the games we need to win, there's no use just scraping into finals. We need to come into finals if we make it knowing can beat a top three team."

The only downside for the Bulldogs was a cork to Matt Ness, but he is expected to play in next weekend's big home match against Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong.

Coolamon has been out-run by both the Lions and Bulldogs in recent weeks, and co-coach Jake Barrett said their lapses and failure to hit the scoreboard when they have momentum are hurting.

"Their backs ran hard off our forwards and that's what hurt us, it starts from there. We fought well but it's disappointing because we're a much better team than that," he said.

"There was a patch against Ganmain which let us down, and Turvey also made the most of it today and held us out at the end.

"Even though it was wet weather footy at times they played the way they wanted to play. They just reacted quicker at times, that's why they put us away in the third quarter."

Turvey Park 2.1 4.2 9.5 9.6 (60) def Coolamon 2.4 4.8 5.9 7.12 (54)

Goals: Turvey Park - Lachlan Leary 2, Thomas Yates, Luke Fellows, Tyler Cunningham, Baxter Wallett, Mitchell Ward, Rhett Weidemann, Jack Haggar; Coolamon - Jeremiah Maslin 2, Matthew McGowan 2, Joseph Redfern, Joshua Buchanan, Max Hillier

Best: Turvey Park - Luke Fellows, Billy Glanvill, Angus Curry, Ashley Harris, Stephen Camp, William O'Connor; Coolamon - Marshal Macauley, Jake Barrett, Matthew McGowan, Connor Neyland, Ryan Allen, Tennyson Vance

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