THE Rams will lock horns at Barraba today in a game that could decide the visiting Rams’ top tier fate.
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Walcha head into the penultimate round before the competition splits in fifth spot and eager to get the points and secure their spot.
They don’t want to have to be relying on beating Moree in the final round.
But as Rams coach Barry Hoy knows only too well, it’s not going to be easy.
“We’re not going to be taking them lightly,” he said.
“We’ve got to go out prepared to play.
“They led Moree at half-time.
“They’re obviously playing some good footy.”
Especially against the top sides.
It’s been the sides, on that basis, they probably should perform well against, they haven’t.
Hoy said they’re a bit in the same boat, last week’s win over Scone fresh in his mind.
In his assessment they didn’t play well.
One of the big things will be playing with a bit more control.
“If we can control what we’re doing we’ll be a lot better off,” Hoy said.
Pete Young comes back into the backline and will slot into the centres, with Ed Churchill moving back into five-eighth with Lachie Fletcher out.
Sam Martin also returns to the starting 15 after coming off the bench last week.
Hoy is expecting a fierce battle in the forwards and said they had done a bit of work this week on securing their ball.
Barraba have also shown a willingness to throw the ball around so they’ll have to be on their game defensively in the backs.
Inverell are in a similar predicament to Walcha going into their clash at Inverell Rugby Park with Quirindi.
“It’s a bit of a must win for us to earn our spot in the top tier,” co-coach Chad Makim said.
They sit just ahead of Walcha on for and against and four points clear of Tamworth in sixth and have Pirates to play in the final round and, on recent results,certainly won’t be taking the Lions lightly.
“They’ve had a couple of good wins this year,” Makim said.
“They’ll be really strong.
“We’ll really have to be on our game.”
The Highlanders were beaten by competition leaders Narrabri last round but they gave them a good workout.
Makim commented that a few of the Blue Boars players were saying afterwards that it was the toughest game they’ve had.
“There was a lot to take out of it, especially holding Narrabri to that score (25),” he said.
In saying that, their defence lapsed a bit.
Their line speed and the communication wasn’t quite to the level it has been.
“We’ll be looking to pick up our defence again,” Makim said.
In the other game today, Moree is at home to Tamworth.