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Rugby have produced a disciplined and consistent performance with the ball to help them defeat South Dubbo by 57 runs at No. 3 Oval on Saturday.
Ben Taylor's 45 helped the defending premiers overcome a rocky start to post 200 but Souths were well on track when they reached 1-60 after just 13 overs.
But pressure with the ball and in the field choked Souths with only Will Wolter (59) posting a reasonable score in reply before they finished the innings at 9-143.
Wolter did his job at one end but with no able to stay with him he struggled later in the innings to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Taylor was also the best with the ball for Rugby, taking 2-16 from eight overs, proving how valuable he was to the Rugby side as he returned to full fitness.
Earlier in the day Souths opening bowler Scott Tucker picked up the big wickets of Mitch Bower and Nathan Munro while skipper Tim Berry knocked over Jordan Moran to have last season's champions in trouble at 4-66.
But Aidan Bennewith and Harry Kempston made a valuable 42-run partnership before Taylor came in and helped his side post a competitive total.
Tucker was the best for Souths with four wickets while Kyle Wells took 3-28.
Despite losing Asher Robins in the first over Souths kept the score ticking over in a partnership between Wolter and Adam Wells (31).
But Rugby turned the screws on after the drinks break, the pressure forced Souths batsmen to play shots which weren't always there, resulting in wickets falling at regular intervals.
Adrian Carey was close to his best for Rugby, claiming 2-13 from eight overs with his leg spin while Ben Patterson also impressed, taking 1-20 from his eight.
Taylor took the big wickets of Wells and Berry and without the likes of Adam Carr and Matt Findlay the Souths batting line-up was far from it's best.
After their opening round win over Macquarie the Hornets have now slumped to three consecutive losses while Rugby are slowly returning to their best, winning three straight after their first round defeat at the hands of Newtown.