The Steamers charged out of the blocks in the first half before going on to beat CSU 39-17 at Murrayfield, making up for a draw with the Reddies earlier in the season.

Fullback James Devlin and Blake Le Cornu were keys to the victory, helping the Steamers maintain field position as they set up a match-winning 36-5 lead at half-time.

Dave Coyle and flanker Tom Whalley, who scored twice, formed a strong combination in the back row as the Steamers ensured they entered a three-week spell with winning form under their belt.

Coach Mick Raynes was pleased with his team’s ability to hold onto the ball in greasy conditions.

“It was a high quality game, the ball wasn’t dropped as much as I thought it might have been in the conditions,” he said.

“Because it was so slippery, the game was really about field position and it was about who controlled that midfield the tightest.

“It was good to win, it definitely takes the pressure off a bit and now we can work towards getting our season back on track.”

Raynes said the Steamers, who don’t play again until June 25 when they face arch-rival Waratahs in Wagga, would use the next three weeks to work on their combinations and injury management.

“We’ve now got three weeks to consolidate and work on the positive stuff – if we can keep 15 players on the field, that’s going to be pretty helpful,” he said.

“We will break this three-week period down into a solid pre-season for a short, five-week season.

“We still control our own destiny because we play the teams above us on the ladder.

“It’s going to be a great test straight up because Waratahs are the benchmark.

“With it being an eight-team competition, apart from ‘Tahs, there’s not a big gap between second and eighth.

“The season is still there for us.

“There’s a pretty good vibe amongst the players and the players we’ve got are good enough.”

In other matches, Ag College scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to record a memorable upset 17-8 victory over Tumut in miserable conditions at Beres Ellwood.

Despite the loss, Tumut remains second on the table but is now just two ahead of Leeton after the Phantoms brushed aside Wagga City 32-17 at Conolly Rugby Complex.

Centre Angus Le Lievre scored a hat-trick as Waratahs downed Griffith 31-15 at Jubilee Oval to maintain their undefeated start to the season.