AS CSU notched up its fifth Ferguson Cup win in a row on Saturday with a 39-5 victory over Wellington, coach Dom Huggett also saw something new from his squad.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For the first time in 2019, they embraced the running rugby style of play.
When Huggett lost star back Claire Woolmington - a player named as the Ferguson Cup's best last year - for the season it came as a big blow.
But in her absence others have stood up and on Saturday CSU also showed that when working together as a unit, they are formidable.
"It's probably the first time we actually played as a team and started to build towards the style of rugby we want to play," Huggett said.
"I think the last couple of weeks we'd been relying on a few individual performances, but this week we stuck to our game plan.
"We'd make a break, get tackled, we secured the ruck, got the ball and found the holes we needed to. We just played running rugby, which I really liked.
"I like to have a game plan, a template, but that creative rugby when you just play what is in front of you, it's good to watch."
READ MORE: Oxley names his Caldwell Cup squad
READ MORE: New Bulldog Lepaio is having an impact
READ MORE: Centres are the heroes in CSU's away win
While emerging with a comfortable win - their second over Wellington this season - Huggett does see potential in the competition newcomers.
"They are still banding together, but in saying that, they've had some convincing wins, so they are still a good side," he said.
"They play it pretty much in the forwards, but they have a few touch [footy] players out wide. So they hit it up the middle, pass it out to their five-eighth and go off that.
"They are definitely improving and are quite solid, when they put their hits on they put it on."
The Ferguson Cup victory was the start of a bumper day for CSU, who enjoyed a rare clean sweep across the grades.
In the New Holland Cup against Blayney, second grade posted a 36-28 win while the firsts won 22-12.
"I think we had a clean sweep maybe once last year, and before that, I don't think I've ever experienced it to be honest," Huggett said.
"I'm surprised that seconds won ... it seemed like they put in a really good effort."
