The Glen Innes Elks couldn't secure their third win on the trot with a loss to Robb College on Saturday.
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After wins against Armidale Blues in round one and then the Barbarians in round two, the Elks succumbed 31-5 against the students.
Coach Sam Price said errors and a lack of fitness played a huge part in the loss.
"We threw the ball away, a lot of silly mistakes and Robb had the fitness and the skill to punish us for it," he said.
"They spread the ball wide a lot and had the fitness there to support each other.
"We were just completely run off our feet.
"If we had 20 per cent of possession I would be surprised to be honest.
"We have got this weekend off so hopefully we can get a bit more fitness.
"We have shown when we control the footy and when we use it we do well but it highlighted what happens when we don't do those things."
The Elks also struggled with numbers and injuries during the course of the match played havoc on the side.
"We only had 16 and one of the blokes got injured and I had no reserves for the second-half," Price said.
"Having to defend the whole 60 minutes sucked it out of everyone."
Though they only had 15 for the previous week's match against the Barbarians.
"It was a good comparison between the Baa Baas game and the Robb game," Price said.
"We had similar numbers but in the Robb game we didn't have possession whereas in the Baa Baas we controlled the footy really well."
Despite the loss, Price wasn't too deflated and believes it could be a blessing in disguise.
"It is only the third game so it is a good time to lose games like that," he said.
"Hopefully it will show the guys what they have got to do.
"We started off with a couple of wins so a loss isn't going to hurt us, it will give us something to build on and we will hopefully come back stronger next weekend."
Price also made comment on the good turn out of supporters who came along to cheer on the Elks.