United's hopes of staying in the hunt for the inaugural Wanganui Premier League title nosedived into the green Collegiate pitch on Saturday.
For the second time in two weeks, this season's one-day champions were overtaken in fairly comfortable order the schoolboys now taking a mountain of confidence into Wednesday's clash in New Plymouth against Francis Douglas Memorial College for the Gillette Cup first XI knockout competition.
Played over on Collegiate's secondary field, United struggled through to 168-8, still defendable on that track but difficult for a side now relying more on spin and slow bowling.
Max Carroll (31) and Chris Sharrock (37) were the best from the top order, while Lindsay Hobbs (32) made an important contribution among the tailenders.
Collegiate's Angus Baddelly was on song with his right arm medium pacers, taking four wickets, while Morgan Inness was downright measly with 2-5 off his five overs.