Tamworth coach Peter Burke had predicted going into Saturday's clash with Barbarians they would have their work cut out for them.
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He was right with the Baa Baas prevailing 21-18 and consigning the Magpies to their sixth loss of the season.
It was an all too familiar story for the Magpies; a lacklustre first half hurting them.
"I felt in the first half the boys just weren't switched on," Burke said.
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He added they were probably lucky to be only down 7-3 at half-time with the home side enjoying the weight of possession and playing a "really strong, solid, first half of football".
In contrast the Magpies "didn't clean out well" and fell "back into old traps" as far as their discipline.
The Baa Baas scrum was also really strong and they struggled to win quality ball.
Not for the first time this season though the Magpies were able to a turn things around in the second half.
"The second half the boys went out and fired up and played pretty well and got themselves back into the game and found themselves leading at one stage 18-14," Burke said.
By his recollection there was about 15 minutes to go then.
But within five minutes Baa Baas were back in front after a fortuitous bounce from a return kick, the ball bouncing behind the Magpies winger and perfectly for the Baa Baas player coming through.
Burke said Baa Baas deserved the win, acknowledging that they were the better team as they turned around a 50-14 first round loss.
He certainly though hasn't lost hope with his side, despite the losses mounting up.
"We're very close," he said.
"That's been shown by the fact that we've managed to get a whole heap of bonus points."
They have won one less game than both Baa Baas and Robb but thanks to their superior bonus points still sit third.
"I just think when it clicks it's really going to click," he said.
"For me it's not an ability or fitness thing, it's a mental thing".
He thought Nick Wiseman was their best.
"He tried hard all day, he was excellent," he said.
Jack Barker picked up the two points and Blake Clout the one.
In the other game Robb handed college rivals St Alberts their first loss of the season in a tight tussle 10-7.
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