After taking out the clash at the top of the table, Waratahs have all but wrapped up the minor premiership with a 22-10 win over West Wyalong at Exies Oval on Sunday afternoon.
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Three second-half tries to nil were enough to see the Waratahs maintain their gap to second place which is now occupied by Yanco-Wamoon.
After both sides traded blows in the opening 15 minutes, it was the Mallee Men who were able to hit the scoreboard first. After finding space out wide, Andrew Preston was able to score in the corner to give the visitors the lead.
The lead was short-lived, however, with the Waratahs answering eight minutes later. After having gotten close the previous set, Graham Levu was able to use his strength to punch a hole in the Mallee Men defence and after a successful conversion by Niu George the home side was up by two points.
It was the Mallee Men who were able to take the lead into the break after a stretch pass from Braiden Jones put Christopher Mayberry into a hole, and after scoring under the post, the West Wyalong side went into the halftime break with a 10-6 lead.
The Waratahs made a fast start to the second half and were able to take the lead soon after the break as Viliami Ngu was able to push his way across.
The home side was able to control the field position for much of the second half with the Mallee Men not getting too many clear chances as they searched for the breakthrough which would restore their advantage.
With 10 minutes left in the second half Kose Lelei was able to extend the Waratahs advantage after making a dart back down the short side and although it looked like the Mallee Men defence would be able to hold him up he rolled out and got the ball to the turf.
The Waratahs wrapped up the game in the final minute as after forcing a turnover off a Lelei bomb, Chris Tomi was able to get over in the corner to secure the two points with a 12-point victory.
The result means that with three rounds remaining the Waratahs hold a two-point lead at the top of the table and take on Leeton next weekend while West Wyalong will take on Darlington Point Coleambally.
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