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A MOMENT of hesitant silence fell over University when they gathered in the team huddle to celebrate a drought-breaking RMS AFL Townsville win on Saturday.

There was nothing profound about the quietness that followed the 9.9 (63) to 8.12 (60) upset of second-placed Hermit Park, the men in brown and gold had simply forgotten the words to the team song.

For the longest time in the club's proud history the happy Hawks chant had not been heard, with the perennial Townsville football powerhouse going winless in their first 11 matches this season.

Co-captain Tyler Fidoe could afford to smile when he stuttered at the beginning of a heartfelt rendition of the song.

"Yeah, I just had to stop for a second to remember them," he laughed.

But he quickly found his voice to lead the team in song for the first time since taking over the captaincy with Phil Burger, the result having ended their feeling of dread that they may be the first skippers to fail to score a win for Uni.

"That mantle was only out there for one day in the paper and it's gone," Fidoe said.

"It's a huge weight off our shoulders and I think it takes the pressure off all of us now."

Doing all the heavy lifting for the Hawks against the Tigers was a resilient back line of Liam Arnott, Ryan Kelly and Adam Connell.

"They spoiled and rebounded the ball back into play incredibly well for us," Fidoe said.

UNIVERSITY 2.3 8.6 8.7 9.9 (63)

HERMIT PARK 2.4 2.6 6.11 8.12 (60)