The Mustangs under 18s side travelled to Stuarts Park knowing improvement was mandatory after just scrapping through for a draw against Forster-Tuncurry Hawks the weekend before.

Coach Reuben Jones before the game was adamant his side needed to find their rhythm again at training and a 46-4 away victory would suggest that rhythm was re-gained.

Ethan Thompson, Bailey Thompson and Ivan Madden were among the try-scorers for the Mustangs with Bailey kicking seven out of eight conversions.

"I thought it was a much better team performance this time, we played the way we train and it reflected on the scoreboard," Jones said.

"I thought last week we played one out football where our forwards were just running through the middle rather than running in pairs.

"We didn't give the backs any ball and with a small pack that's not our strength.

"We play much better when we move teams around a lot and that's what we did against the Sharks."

Man of the match for the Mustangs was awarded to Byron Stanton-Kelly who moved into the front-row after normally playing on the edge.

"We're lacking a bit of size so everyone is stepping up and having a go and Byron's performance really stood out," Jones said.

The win for Macleay Valley puts them into equal first with Wingham Tigers, which sets up a top of the table clash next weekend at Verge Street Oval.

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