A strong third term helped the Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels beat their club-mates and Central West AFL rivals the Bushrangers Outlaws 15.12.102 – 9.7.61 at George Park 2 on Saturday.

After leading by just eight points at the long break, the Rebels kicked four goals in the third quarter while restricting their club-mates to just one to increase their buffer to 30.

It ended Rebels’ three-game losing streak at the hands of the Outlaws – a run which included last season’s preliminary final.

Though the Rebels’ playing roster has changed in that time, current captain Matt Archer was still delighted to win yet another classic Bushrangers derby.

“It was close, even afterwards we never felt like we were in control or comfortable, we always felt like we were only a goal or two up,” Archer said.

“We were probably lucky, we took our chances and they just made a couple of skill errors in the back half which a couple of our forwards were able to capitalise on. That was probably the only difference.”

It was certainly close early in the round nine match, with the Rebels leading by one-point at quarter-time.

Through the midfield neither side was afforded time or space with tight man-on-man marking and a host of contested football.

In the end the Rebels managed to get the upper hand to remain second on the competition ladder, but the win was certainly hard earned.

“It was tough, physical and a very hard contested game all game. It never really felt like we took control at any point. They’ll probably feel a little bit unlucky and we’ll feel a bit luckier I suppose,” Archer said.

“It felt like a tight arm wrestle the whole way. Probably the first 10 minutes of the second quarter the Outlaws probably had a bit more control of the game, but then the last five-10 of that quarter we got a bit of ascendancy back.

“We generally get the best out of each other in the derby, we just dare a little more and take the game on a little more as well. It was hotly contested football.”

Archer was impressed by the effort of rival Peter Grundy who had the job in the ruck in the absence of Harry Bowden, saying “he was phenomenal for them.”

“Ben Horn, their coach, for them was sensational too, he was probably the one bloke in the midfield that was able to break the game open. He was really dangerous.”

For the victorious Rebels, Archer said there were some standout performances as well. After Outlaws full forward Tim Hunter booted eight goals in their first meeting of 2018, Matt Luther restricted him to two on Saturday.

In attack Kaleb Crowhurst kicked five majors for the Rebels, taking his tally for the season to 17.

“Matt Luther had the job on Tim Hunter and he really kept him quite, he is a sensational back man,” the captain said.

“Then Kaleb Crowhurst and Bill Watterson up front, they were probably the difference in the end. They were able to just capitalise on those few skill errors that the Outlaws made.”