[The Strugglers Mark II 1975; Geoff, Andrew, Bill, Midge Marsden, Steve Hunt]

In 1975 Geoff returned from Britain and reunited with Bill in what the group refers to as "the Strugglers, Mark 2". This version lacked the imposing presence of Rick, but featured two multi-instrumentalists already well-known on the national blues scene: Andrew Delahunty and Midge Marsden (Country Flyers). Also brought in at this time was the group's first ever drummer, Steve Hunt. A variety of contemporary influences including songs by Little Feat, Taj Mahal and the Rolling Stones were added to the repertoire. Bill Lake also began writing his own songs around this time. Midge soon left to devote his attention to the Flyers, but shortly afterwards the call for a bass player was answered by Nick Bollinger, seventeen and fresh out of high school.

This version of the Strugglers played a few restaurant and pub gigs around Wellington, reaching its highest profile opening for Steeleye Span to an audience of bemused folk-rock fans at the Wellington Town Hall. They were also booked for a season at the Royal Tiger, for the extraordinary purpose of thinning the sometimes riotous crowds that had been generated by the previous residency of Midge Marsden's immensely popular Country Flyers. Having fulfilled the management's brief, the residency was short-lived.

By 1977 the members had drifted into other activities or musical ventures, with Nick joining Rick Bryant in Rough Justice, and Bill playing a stint with Robbie Laven's Red Hot Peppers. The Strugglers never entirely ceased to exist, however, and as late as 1984 a version was revived for a one-off appearance at the party following the New Zealand Music Awards, a black-tie, industry-dominated affair. Not for the first time, the group's jug band music seemed somewhat incongruous with its surroundings.

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