NINTH-placed Howlong stormed back into finals calculations with a surprise eight-point victory over Henty at Howlong on Saturday.
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In a dirty day for the Swampies, gun midfielder Daniel Cox injured his hamstring in the final quarter and could miss a month of football.
Howlong coach Beau Packer said it was pleasing to close out the game after being in matches against Osborne, Holbrook and Culcairn in recent weeks.
"Our last month has been really good," Packer said.
"We've played well in patches but just let our guard down at different stages and it's cost us.
"It was great to play a good brand of footy and stay in the mix for the finals.
"It was a really important win for us in that regard."
It was great to play a good brand of footy and stay in the mix for the finals
- Beau Packer
The victory leaves Howlong just four premiership points and percentage behind sixth-placed Henty with a much easier run to the finals.
The Spiders take on Rand-Walbundrie-Walla, CDHBU, Lockhart and Billabong Crows in the next month in a run which will ultimately decide their season.
Ben Baker, Matt McDonald and Steve Jolliffe were outstanding at ground level for Howlong while Peter Hancock took control of the ruck.
Alex Popko restricted Damian Cupido to three goals and skipper Blake Williams thrived in the slippery conditions.
The Spiders will regain Matt Lee from suspension on Saturday.
Henty held an eight-point lead at three quarter-time but Jared Brennan, Josh Singe and James Ellis lacked the support to hold out Howlong who had the wind in the final term.
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla proved too strong for Jindera, winning by 47 points at Walbundrie.
With Josh Star kicking three goals in the opening term, the Giants stormed out of the blocks and were never threatened as they posted win number five for the season.
Ryan Lavery, Tom Plunkett, Tom Holman, Brian Lieschke, Myles Aalbers and Chris Duck were in everything while Jindera ruckman Mitch Lawrence was the Bulldogs' best performer.
Culcairn scored an impressive 75-point win over Lockhart at Lockhart.
The Lions picked up some handy percentage by kicking eight goals in the final term with Adam Prior dominating at full-forward.
He kicked eight majors and was fed by Tim Hallinan and Jye Shields.
Lockhart sorely missed veteran ruckman Neil Irwin and lost Wagga Tigers recruit Harry Bennett with a broken hand.
Bennett's brother, Ash, played well on debut.
