WAUCHOPE ended a winless streak that had spanned five games with a surprise 30-22 victory over ladder-leaders Macleay Valley at Verge Street Oval on Saturday.
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You had to go back to May 26 to find the Blues last victory and as a result, their season was in danger of slipping away before they headed to Kempsey.
Now, coach Anthony Boyd and his side can again dare to dream of a home grand final following the eight-point success.
"That win locks us into third spot so it gives us two bites of the cherry and the potential is there that if we are playing good footy and go win, win we can hold the grand final too," he said.
The biggest thing with us is we were self-imploding the last few weeks; the boys just couldn't hold onto the footy.
- Anthony Boyd
"That would be a huge shot in the arm for the club."
Wauchope's return to winning ways came off the back of a high completion rate which had been sadly missing for the last five weeks.
Boyd admitted his team had themselves to blame.
"The biggest thing with us is we were self-imploding the last few weeks; the boys just couldn't hold onto the footy," he said.
"The last four or five weeks when we've been on that run we just couldn't build any pressure and were completing our sets at under 40 per cent at best.
"Against the Sharks last week we were two from 14 in the second half and it doesn't matter who you're playing, you can't compete at this level with stats like that."
They rectified that with a completion rate that nudged 80 per cent.
"If we're up around that mark we're going to be pretty hard to beat," the coach said.
It's only one win, but it means we've now beaten everyone in the comp so it gives that little bit of self-belief within the squad.
- Anthony Boyd
"We had a bit of discipline about our game again and had a bit of respect for the footy and earned the right to play a bit of footy and it showed in the effort and the scoreboard.
"When we have a bit of respect for the footy I'm pretty confident we can give it a good shake."
Boyd admitted it was important for his side to back up their win on the road with another victory against Forster-Tuncurry at home next Sunday.
"We're not getting ahead of ourselves," he said.
"It's only one win, but it means we've now beaten everyone in the comp so it gives that little bit of self-belief within the squad.
"(If) we get two wins under our belt going into the finals, I think we're going to be pretty hard to beat."
Wauchope led 16-12 at the break before Chris Piper barged over early in the second half to put the hosts back in front.
Macleay Valley gave themselves a converted try cushion when halfback Tyreece Sines wrapped around Conrad Lardner to create an extra man and put winger David Davis over in the corner.
But Wauchope, who were previously winless since round seven, lifted to another gear for the final 20-minutes.
Two tries in quick succession saw them reinstate a six point lead and their tireless defence frustrated the Mustangs.
Wauchope iced the game when they converted a penalty goal from 30m out with three minutes remaining.
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