The Magpies slipped to a sixth loss from eight matches on Saturday, succumbing 48-10 to top four contenders the Woden Valley Rams.

Despite the heavy loss, Naughton believes the Magpies are slowly ticking boxes in their bid to again be a heavyweight in regional rugby league’s strongest competition.

Saturday’s hiding was just the Magpies’ eighth match since returning to the Canberra Raiders Cup after a three year hiatus.

“We were pretty ordinary, to be honest. Defensively, we bounced off too many tackles,” a frank Naughton explained on Monday.

The performance relegates Yass to seventh position and means they must play perfect football to feature in September. 

Yet there’s cause for optimism at Walker Park headquarters.

“It’s been a pretty successful return,”  Naughton continued. 

“We’ve got four sides, our playing numbers are good, sponsorship is strong and the community is right behind us.

“In terms of first grade, we’re a bit off the pace with the top four. We haven’t been playing consistently for 80 minutes. 

“The main goal for this year was to be competitive and get the club back off the ground, We’ve done that. 

“In first grade, we set ourselves the goal of making the top four. That was a challenge, but it’s something that’s achievable as well. At the moment, we’re in seventh place, seven points out of the top four, so we’re not there yet.

“The plan is already in place for next year, so hopefully we can hit the ground running then.”

Fullback Andrew Swaffield and prop Josh Newling feature prominently in those plans. 

Both excelled on Saturday and earned praise from their skipper. 

Fellow prop Kruse Robinson and backrower Josh Hall were also among the Magpies’ best.

In a further boost for the club, debutants Reuben OIah and Ben Griffin made inroads into the Rams’ defence.

The Magpies return to Walker Park this Saturday for a must-win showdown with the second-placed West Belconnen.

They’ll be preceded by the Magpies reserve grade line-up - a team that continues to defy the odds in 2016. The seconds sit in fourth position and can leapfrog their nemesis, West Belconnen, with victory. 

The under 18s, meantime, are determined to produce a competitive showing against competition frontrunners, the Warriors.

Woden Valley Rams 48 defeated Yass Magpies 10 [J Hall, A Swaffield tries; D Brown conversion]