The Glen Innes Elks second grade team hadn't managed to beat the Armidale Blues in their two previous clashes this year but on Saturday they changed that.
Down on numbers, the Elks opted to forfeit their third grade game game in order to strengthen their second grade outfit and it proved a success.
The second grade team ran past the Blues 26-12 in what club president Ben Emery described as "a really strong style of game."
"I think the first scrum we pushed them straight over the top of the ball," Emery said.
"We were really happy with the performance.
"There's obviously some stuff to take away and keep working on.
"But we were really happy overall with the performance and how the day turned out for us."
The fixture was the Elks' last home game this season with two rounds remaining before New England Rugby Union heads into its finals series.
They'll have their work cut out for them in the last two rounds when they face the two college clubs - Robb and then St Albert's.
Emery hopes they can field two teams against Robb this Saturday.
"We just need to firm up a bit of player availability, we have got a few blokes hopefully returning from injury, a couple of fellas just going to sit this one out this weekend," he said.
"Hopefully we can turn around and still put two teams out on the field."
The college sides run around their opponents with the exuberance of youth on display.
Emery is expecting no different this Saturday.
"We got a few good wins over Robb throughout the year but they are not a side we will take cheaply," he said.
"We expect a hard, fast type of football against Robb.
"They have always been good in defence and quick out wide so we know that is something we need to work on.
"We have a lot of pace in our own backs, but trying to execute a few of our plays is where we need to be."
Ellen Dunger
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later on that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Always happy to hear news and tips. www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later on that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Always happy to hear news and tips. www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
