ARMIDALE Rams caused the biggest upset of the Group 19 season so far when they produced one of their best defensive efforts of the past couple of decades and held out reigning premiers Moree Boomerangs for a 22-18 win at Armidale Rugby League Park on Saturday.
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Up at Warialda the hometown Wombats were beaten 34-30 by the visiting Ashford Roosters.
Moree Boars hosted the Glen Innes Magpies and while they started a bit flat-footed a “rev up” from coach Trevor Tighe had the Boar boys steaming in the second half to pile on 52 points after scores were locked 16-all at the break.
Ben Williams scored four tries as a result of Brenton Cochrane’s successful shift to halfback, while Marshall Barker and Daniel Jobson lifted the pack in the second half in the 68-28 win.
“The first half wasn’t the game we wanted to play,” Tighe said.
“But we switched on, laid the platform with the forwards and Brenton (Cochrane) did the rest with the backs.”
Inverell Hawks overwhelmed Guyra Spuds 80-4 at Varley Oval yesterday where big backrower, Alex McCosker, scored four tries.
“We were pretty good in the first half,” said Hawks coach Peter Stevens.
“Our completions were very good. The second half we got away from that a little but. But Guyra tried hard, they’re having a go, teat’s the main thing.”
While McCosker was impressive Guy Mepham, who played hooker in the absence of regular number nine Mick Hodge, was also impressive.
Leroy Davis was also good in the centres and Brendan Critchlow went well in his first game back.
The Hawks play the Rams next week and expect a tough match after the Rams success against the Boomerangs.
It was just the result the Rams needed to spark their season, said club president Terry Carson.
“We’re ecstatic with that,” Carson told The Leader.
“Fantastic, that’s the best we’ve played for a few years. But we did beat them last year too.
“It was just a great team performance. The forwards were great, had big games in the middle and matched them there.
‘The defence in the second half was unbelievable. The Boomies had probably 65 per cent of the ball but our guys just kept turning up. The best defence I’ve seen for many years.”
He said captain-coach Clarrie Moran led the way, while Mikey Ware was strong in the centres and new first grader Aaron Fox was great at hooker.
Ashford Roosters had plenty to crow about after an enthralling four-point win over the Wombats at Warialda Recreation Showground.
“The two sides were pretty evenly matched,” said Roosters club president Mick Lewis.
“It was an entertaining game, went right down to the wire, could have gone either way.
“It was a real bounce of the ball stuff.”
He thought the entire Rooster pack were outstanding while Dalton Dettman made an excellent debut for the club in the centres.
Cameron Toomey had a big game too. But the forwards, led by Buster Chard, Kyle Hartley and Lachlan McDonald also had big games.”
