The Glen Innes Elks fell agonisingly short of their first win in their return to the top grade when they faced Robb College on Saturday.
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With 15 minutes left on the clock, the Elks were in front but Robb came back and took the win 27-19.
"First grade, some poor decisions cost us the game," Elks coach Tom Benton said.
"We didn't make the right choices to close the game out when we were ahead and Robb was good enough to capitalise on the way back in that we gave them."
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Glen's second grade team got off the mark with a 17-12 victory over the students.
Benton said, although they didn't secure the win in first grade, there was obvious growth in both teams.
"I would say for both teams, the improvements on the previous week were quite significant," he said.
"Second grade played really well, played good footy, it was a close game and it was good they got the win."
This Saturday four Glen Innes teams will travel the New England Highway to face Tamworth.
There will be three men's matches and the Elkettes will hit the paddock for their first competition games.
"I have not seen the Elks, or heard of them, putting three grades on the park so that is a pretty good effort," Benton said.
"We will have a couple of the boys doubling up but that is alright, they all want to play footy.
"We have a few injuries starting to roll in which is part and parcel of playing footy I suppose."
Tamworth have been flying high with two wins from the first two rounds.
Although their opponents are running hot, Benton is more focused on getting "continued improvement" from his squad.
"If we can keep sorting that stuff out, make some better choices, we are in with a shot," he said.
"I don't consider it a lost cause going down there.
"Tamworth is a good team and they will be tough but we still have a path to victory if we go about it right."