By MARK CASHMAN

You find out things about footy teams when times are tough and that’s what Eastern Suburbs coach Pauli Taumoepeau did on Saturday at Woollahra Oval.

The Beasties scrapped their way to 31-29 win over the previously unbeaten Northern Suburbs in their Round Nine Shute Shield fixture, the victory dragging them up into third spot on the competition table with 30 points.

A penalty try in the 83rd minute from a rolling maul gave the home side the victory but it was the willingness to hang in the contest that most pleased Taumoepeau.

“We needed to have a decent showing against an elite team,” Taumoepeau told Rugby News.