Junee ensured there would be no more late heroics from Young to bring up a crucial win at Laurie Daley Oval on Saturday.
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The Cherrypickers scored two late tries to force a draw with Temora last week, but fell two points short this time around.
Six points was the biggest margin all day in the see-sawing clash but the Diesels just had enough to run out 22-20 winners.
After just one win from the first four rounds, Junee captain-coach Trent Schubach was relieved to come away with the two points.
"We really needed it," Schubach said.
"We've been getting a few players back which really helped.
"A few players are playing injured so we're battling away but if we can get to full strength I think we can go a long way."
Young got off to a perfect start when their kick off found touch and they scored through Numiasasulu Tema in the first attacking set of the game.
Junee responded when Daniel Foley crossed for the first of his two tries.
New recruit Kelepi Komaisavou put the Cherrypickers back in front with seven minutes left before Foley burst through two tackle attempt to see the two sides head into the break at 10-all.
Jarom Vakarewakobau scored 12 minutes after the break only for Casey Wall's try saw Young edge back in front nine minutes later.
However they couldn't take the kick off and in the blink of an eye the Diesels were back on top as Will Merritt scored.
Junee didn't have the lead long as Blake Hewitt floated a kick over for James Schiller and he raced 50 metres down the sideline to score.
The try-for-try action continued after another 'Pickers mistake off the restart as Dakota Ruta scored the what would be the match winner from dummy half with seven minutes remaining.
Schubach was impressed with Ruta's impact at five-eighth after missing last week's loss to Albury.
"He is getting better and better each week," he said.
"He is getting more confidence, his running game is really good and we just need a bit more structure for him to play off of that."
Foley was also dangerous with the ball, especially in the first half running into the strong breeze, with Schubach is pleased with the work Vakarewakobau and Rusiate Kaliseiwaqa put in to start the team's sets.
As for Young the loss sees them slip behind the Diesels on the Group Nine ladder and into seventh place.
They've won just once plus had a draw with the Dragons.
Cherrypickers coach Roy Jewitt said his side were shocking, especially after conceding so many points right after scoring themselves.
"Schoolboy errors just kept them in the game," Jewitt said
"We should have put them away by half-time but they kept going and we were ordinary.
"Our kicking game was very poor and I don't know what is going on."
Jewitt made plenty of positional changes with the arrival of the Fijian international.
Jesse Corcoran looked sharp in his move to hooker, and the Englishman was pleased with Komaisavou's first half but admitted there is plenty of work to do ahead of a tough next month.
They face Southcity, Tumut and Albury, who are all in the top four, in the next three weeks.
Jewitt is looking for some swift improvement.
"We just get away from what we are training to do and it shows," he said.
"We still have a lot of work to do.
"We've got some tough footy ahead but hopefully it will bring out the best in us."
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