HE wasn't originally listed to play in Saturday's New Holland Agriculture Cup game away to the Blayney Rams but CSU are very happy Regan Hughes made the trip.
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In just two short 10 minute bursts of game time, to avoid adding to his list of injuries, Hughes scored a pair of tries to take CSU to a 22-12 win and a sixth straight victory to start the season.
Hughes, along with his fellow centre Jack Keppel, helped steer CSU in the right direction while Aiden Kennelly, Oscar Nicholson and Charlie Mansfield starred in the victory over Blayney.
"It was pleasing to see that we used Regan minimally but got the maximum impact," CSU coach David Conyers said.
"Blayney played really well and I've got to compliment them on their efforts.
"They just brought the ball through the middle, had a lot of offloads through there, and were playing the style of game I wanted our guys to play.
"We drifted away from that again. We just went sideways in the backline and put in a lot of ineffective kicks, with a few charged down, and we got lucky with a few of those bounces.
"It was a bit of a kick-a-thon for much of the match and we were lacking that penetration because we didn't have Regan out there."
The clubs exchanged tries in the first 10 minutes, with CSU's Nick Greenberg opening the scoring before a quick response from the Rams made it 7-all.
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Jack Keppel then hit home a monster 50 metre field goal to give CSU a three-point advantage.
The game once again saw quick tries exchanged at the half hour mark.
On that occasion Rams got the first blow when Ryan Simmons ran the ball almost 100 metres off an intercept to score off the run of play.
Hughes was brought on close to the break and his impact for CSU was immediate.
His unconverted try gave the students a 15-12 half-time lead.
CSU and Rams each found it hard to make metres with the ball in hand, each instead opting for the boot to make their way up the ground.
Once again it was up to the dynamic CSU centre Hughes to provide the spark his team needed.
With his first touch after coming onto the ground Hughes scored with just six minutes left on the clock to sink the Rams' winning hopes.
Adding to the great day for CSU was second grade's 36-28 win.
"That's the first time we've won first and second grade on the same day since the competition started," Conyers said.
"There were a few old boys coming back into the seconds which will make a big difference.
"We've gone from having a zero experience team to having some great players in there and that's going to put some pressure on first grade, and that's a really wonderful sign."
Hughes also helped to set up a try for CSU during his short second grade stint.
CSU 22 (Regan Hughes 2, Nick Greenberg tries; Jack Keppel 2 conversions; Keppel field goal) defeated BLAYNEY RAMS 12
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
