With two wins in two weeks, The Rock-Yerong Creek have climbed from last on the ladder up to sixth and, in so doing, have transferred at least some of the pressure building under their season.
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The Magpies powered to a comfortable win against Charles Sturt University on Saturday, backing up their victory at Barellan last week and putting the blowtorch on the Bushpigs who now have just one win from six games.
TRYC coach Tom Yates is well aware they only have two, but after five straight losses to start the season, and with a bye to come in a fortnight, the Magpies are breathing a little easier after a 34-point win at Victoria Park.
"It was good. I couldn't have been happier with the way the boys played. Before the game, I said we just need effort and pressure for four quarters and the boys brought that," Yates said.
"If you're 10 percent off, you'll get rolled no matter who you play this year. But it's a funny one because we're still not that confident. We've got a lot of work to do. We know we can play good footy but we've won two games. It's a long way to go yet."
A huge third quarter set up the 12.12 (84) to 7.8 (50) victory in a fitting result for David Pieper's 200th game.
"We mentioned him before the game and during the game. 200 games, it's a massive effort at one club and the boys did it for Pip as much as anything else," Yates said.
"But there was 21 contributors, it was a really good all-round team effort, which was what we needed."
Adding merit to the win, the Magpies were missing forward Andy Carey, ruckmen Jack Driscoll and Jake Gunning, and Tim Sullivan and Luke Fellows.
Joel Kelly earned plaudits, getting the job done in the ruck as the Pies got on top in the midfield, and made sure they hit the scoreboard in the second half.
Leading by five points at half-time, they delivered the knockout in the third, kicking 6.4 while keeping the Bushpigs to just two behinds, for a match-winning 43-point lead with a quarter to play.
Switching between the midfield and forward, Jim Carroll kicked four goals but Yates said a team effort was the key to victory, with Lachy Myers and Mahlon Norbury among those to shine.
"The first four or five weeks we've let sides jump us and been chasing our tail and it's not easy. We've been in games and we know internally what we can do. We're gradually starting to do it," Yates said.
A knee injury that ended Harri White's involvement is a worry while hamstring tightness troubled Casey Hillary and Mitch Stephenson.
The Pies face an acid test next week at Gumly against ladder leaders East Wagga-Kooringal, who will be coming off their first loss.
CSU will be desperate for a win when they host the fifth-placed Northern Jets. Joe Stapleton was dangerous across half-back for the Bushpigs while midfielders Ben Keith and Lachie Moore continued their good efforts.
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