The Blues were superb for three quarters in the clash at Cobram, but the home side slammed on 6.4 in the last term while holding the visitors to two behinds to run out 40-point winners.
Tongala was in the game for so long due to the efforts of its coach Jordan Souter, Jack Hammond, Nick Woods and Coby McCarthy in particular.
They all did a power of work to prevent Cobram getting its running game going to full capacity.
Riley Bacon and Mark Watson also made their presence felt but for the first three quarters most of the Tongala players contributed.
The Blues host Rumbalara this Saturday and need another win to keep on top eight pace.
■Tongala reserves continued their good season in a runaway win.
Jesse Moran with five goals, Sam Tyler with four and Tim Strapp with three did the finishing off work of Caleb Smith, Kyle Halliwell, Zane Johnstone, Dom Watt and Bailey Cox to bring off the decisive victory, which has Tongala sitting third on the ladder.
■Tongala Under 17s found Cobram too slick in a heavy defeat.
Clayton Watson, Noah Densley and Jay Matthes played well for Tongala with support from Sam Cipriani, Ryan Cox and Riley Souter.
■Tongala’s Under 14s retained a top four spot with a strong 38-point win.
Harley Reid bagged eight goals and Kade Northausen three while Tristan Watson, Jessie Johnstone, Dylan Moor and Mark Carroll were all prominent.
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