GUNNEDAH'S forward power again came to the fore on Saturday as the Red Devils charged their way to a 21-point win over the Scone Brumbies to close out the first round.
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Stung by the Brumbies in the corresponding game last season, the hosts recovered from a stumble early in the second half to cement their top four spot 41-20.
"Our goal was to finish in the top four after the first half of the comp and we've done that, so that's very pleasing," second-rower Matt Roseby said.
Souring the victory, they look like being without halfback, and captain, Zac Newcombe for at least a month after he broke his ankle when he was caught high.
The win was set up in the last 20 minutes of the first half with the Red Devils running in three tries in the space of 10 minutes at one point en route to establishing a 29-8 lead a half-time.
Continuing on from his strong performance for Central North last weekend, breakaway Seva Nadruku crossed twice as the Red Devils' forwards asserted their authority.
The home side was given a bit of a scare when, after scoring right on half-time, the Brumbies were all over them early in the second period, and cut their lead back to 14 points.
But, they found their groove again in the most spectacular of fashion, Sanimo Navatu taking the ball off the back of a scrum about 20m out, and pushing off a couple of defenders before linking up with Nadruku.
He then found Darrell Morrison in support, and he raced away 50m to score.
Elsewhere, Quirindi edged out Inverell 23-20 and Moree won a low-scoring affair against Narrabri 12-9.