MEREWETHER coach Jamie Lind is confident that he has the right pieces to win the Hunter Rugby premiership.
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The next four weeks is about making sure the puzzle comes together.
After consecutive losses to fellow heavyweights Hamilton (29-28) and Wanderers (20-5), the Greens returned to the winner's circle - and the top of the ladder - with a 39-12 win over University at Bernie Curran Oval.
The visitor's didn't get it all their own way.
University, led by Wildfires trio Carl Manu, Kirk Tufuga and Louis Rogers, produced a spirited second half to come back from 15-0 down and close the gap to 15-12 with 20 minutes remaining. Hooker Jack Stanford charged over and Tufuga peeled off the back of a scrum for the second.
However, the injection off the bench of front-rowers Kye Marshall and Dave Puchert and an unlucky yellow card to Rogers switched momentum.
Marshall burst through three tackles in a 15-metre charge to the tryline in the 63rd minute for 22-12.
Ten minutes later, Rogers was sinbinned despite appearing to be on his feet when contesting for the ball.
The Greens put the foot on throat and crossed for three tries in the final 10 minutes.
"In the second half, we managed to get the balance of possession we have been looking for in the last few weeks," Lind said. "That was probably the difference for us. It is just being a bit more patient with the ball. We have guys who want to keep playing football at every opportunity. Sometimes you have to rein it in."
University director of rugby Bob Harrison was left to rue poor execution and 50-50 calls that went against the Students at key times.
"It is such a frustrating result when little decisions here and there change the course of the game," he said. "We tried to force things too much in the first half. Against a side of Merewether's quality, if you give them a sniff, they are gone."
Asked if Merewether were the team to beat, Harrison said: "They have more ability than anyone else to hurt you."
Merewether head the table on 46 points, a point ahead of Wanderers, who have played an extra game, and three clear of Hamilton.
The Greens have matches left against Southern Beaches, Singleton, Nelson Bay and Maitland.
"It is about making sure we have the right pieces in the puzzle for the last games of the year," Lind said. "We have Dave [Puchert], Kye [Marshall] and Nick Dobson who are with us now. They are not going t be with us in finals. That is why we are making sure that all the guys who will be taking us through are getting plenty of time.
"We have to make sure we have the right people in the right places. We know we are right in it, we just have a couple of things to fix."
In other games Saturday, Fijian flyer Sili Are crossed for a double to help steer Singleton to a 48-21 win over Nelson Bay at Rugby Park and move two clear on top of the try-scorer's list with 14.
Maitland scored five tries in the first half in a 50-24 triumph over Southern Beaches at Ernie Calland Field.