The Canaries trailed 8-4 at the break after a sluggish first half, but kicked into gear in the second to run in five unanswered tries and leapfrog the Cougars into fourth spot.

It was their third win on the trot and will see them take momentum into the final stretch of the season after overcoming a seemingly insurmountable 0-5 start to the season.

After a slow start, coach Mick Murphy was pleased to see his side sprint through the finishing tape after finding another gear in the second half.

"In fairness to both sides the game was just flat in the first half, there was no intensity from either side," Murphy said.

'That's been our problem all year. A lot of blokes there haven't played a lot of first grade and they're starting to learn that you've got to be on for longer periods.

"Every week we were getting beaten in little blocks of the game when it was getting away from us. The boys were trying hard every week little mistakes and things like that were costing us big time

"I challenged the boys at halftime and said which ever side lifted the intensity first in the second half would win it. To the boys credit they did and racked up a score."

It leaves them the first side outside the top tree to string three consecutive wins together and puts them in the box seat for a finals berth - though that's meant little in the race for fourth spot this season.

"You forgot the bye," Murphy joked when reminded of the stat.

"We were in a pretty big hole but it was one we dug ourselves. To the boys credit they've worked hard, they've trained hard all year, and they've fixed up some of those silly mistakes that were really hurting us.

"They're getting the rewards now, we've had three good wins, three tough wins and given ourselves every chance of making the semis. Hopefully we can keep that form up, the boys keep working hard in those areas and we can grab that fourth spot."

The hosts opened the scoring six minutes in through Tonga Tongotongo before the Canaries eventually hit back when Troy Pieper won the race to a Jeff Robson grubber.

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They proves the only bright spots in a stalemate, with Tom Maloney grabbing a penalty goal for a four-point buffer at the break.

Joel Reddy had a double in the 13 minutes after halftime and it was all the visitors from there, with Robson, Rob Beauserau and Brad Buffolin all crossing in the final 13 minutes to claim the win.

It was important one with Helensburgh and Berkeley both producing strong showings early in their respective clashes with Wests and Collegians before being outclassed.

The Devils led the Tigers 10-6 at halftime before running out 30-10 winners while Collies had an 18-6 buffer at the break before finishing 24-16 victors.