The Rock-Yerong Creek issued a reminder of their potential on Saturday, humbling the competition frontrunners, North Wagga, by 60 points at Victoria Park.
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A week after they were shown up at home by Marrar, the Pies answered the call of their coach Tom Yates and handed out a lesson in teamwork and intensity.
The 12.9 (81) to 2.9 (21) win was significant on a few fronts.
It brought an end to North Wagga’s six-game winning streak, toppling the Saints from top spot on the ladder.
It gave TRYC their first win over one of the top three teams. And it answered some of the questions that last week’s loss raised about their credentials.
“We obviously knew we had to bounce back after last week and the boys just really dug deep and had that pressure on from the start,” Yates said.
“It was a bloody unreal win, especially to beat the top side like that. They’re a good side so I’m just proud of the boys.”
Blown off the park in the opening quarter last time they played North Wagga, the Magpies focussed on controlling the game early.
And they capitalised on their intensity, making their own luck.
Despite passing showers and tough conditions, they had four goals inside 13 minutes, including an inward torpedo miracle to Justin Driscoll from the narrowest of angles in a pocket.
That opened up 25-point lead from which the Saints never recovered. Their first point didn’t arrive until after 22 minutes of football. More worryingly, that was their first genuine option to score.
Troy Curtis kicked the first goal after quarter-time to bring them within three goals but Andrew Saddler replied for the Pies with a 60-metre effort that bounced through untouched.
The Pies punished errors with two goals for a 39-point half-time advantage.
North Wagga had the best of the opening and closing minutes of the third term but that was about all. Not even shifting Daniel Jordan forward worked, when they couldn’t get it to him.
If they were waiting for a break in the pressure, it wasn’t coming. TRYC didn’t let up all day, keeping the visitors to two goals for the game, while stretching their own lead out to a stunning 60 points.
A happy Yates could’ve been describing both teams with his summation of the their turnaround.
“We know when we bring the pressure, we’re a good side and if we don’t bring it, well, it’s out the door,” he said.
“When we bring it, we bring it. When we don’t, we don’t.”
In an outstanding team effort, Yates led by example, ruckman Lachie Hunter was a handful and Justin Driscoll continued his superb season with three goals and plenty of touches.
Andrew Saddler and Daniel Steele had jobs in the midfield on Saints’ dangermen Lachie Highfield, Cayden Winter and Corey Watt. While Tariku Fitzgerald-Holmes didn’t stop on a tough day for the Saints.
