The students were hungry to bounce back from their first defeat of the season but knew they would be in for a big challenge against the new competition front runners.

However, CSU upped their game to match it with the greens and produce a game worthy of deciding who would hold the number one spot on the ladder.

The Emus women proved too strong in the end and added another win over a Bathurst side to their 2019 resume, coming one week after their big win over the Bulldogs.

CSU are still nursing injuries and dealing with absent players. If they can pull through a tough period of the season strongly then their hopes of a number one finish will still be alive.

Prior to their loss against the Redbacks the students had won seven straight matches to start their year with a bang.

Emus now sit on 46 points, three clear of the students in second.

The battle for positions in the top half of the table is getting fiercer by the week.

Bathurst Bulldogs' inability to pick up a bonus point in their loss to Forbes Platypi leaves them on 41, now a point behind both the West Wyalong Redbacks and Temora Tuskers.

Over the next fortnight CSU will have to prepare themselves for several meeting which shape up as danger matches.

Their next two games are against Wellington Redbacks and Mudgee Womabts - two mid table clubs who will still fancy their finals chances at this stage.

Next round's game between Temora and West Wyalong shapes up as a crucial contest.