THE focus was on an improved showing and victory over Narromine, but as CSU did exactly that on Saturday it also created a piece of New Holland Cup history for the students.
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In beating Narromine 30-20 at Cale Oval, the students made it a clean sweep of their regular season games against the Gorillas for the first time since the formation of the New Holland Cup in 2018.
That success added to their season-opening 19-13 win on the Gorillas' home turf and a 32-12 triumph at University Oval.
Prior to this season, the head-to-head between the rivals in New Holland Cup matches weighed heavily in favour of the Gorillas with seven wins to CSU's two.
Both of CSU's wins came in their premiership winning 2019 campaign - a 33-29 effort at University Oval and the brilliant 30-29 triumph on grand final day at Cale Oval.
Current CSU coach Dave Conyers can't recall the last time the students posted three regular-season wins over Narromine, a team the university club did battle with in the Blowes Cup before the formation of the New Holland Cup.
"That's our third win in a row over them and I said to the boys I don't think any CSU team in the last 50 years has done that," Conyers said.
What made Saturday's win even more pleasing was that CSU did it without a full strength first XV, their list of absentees including Central West representative Lamarn Ma'a.
They still managed to steal the ball in two Narromine line-outs, made six line breaks, between Maurice Outaha and Lachy Melville managed four turnovers at the breakdown and at one stage kept their line intact despite a 25-phase assault from the hosts.
"We've got a bit of depth now and have people starting to come into form, so I'm pretty happy with where we are at this stage," Conyers said.
"The guys that are filling in are really doing a great job. Our poor ole second grade have been wearing it because they've been decimated by injury and we're taking their players ... but that's the nature of the beast when you've got uni holidays and players away."
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