The 16-10 win at Inverell Rugby Park extended the Rams’ buffer over the Highlanders to two wins with two rounds to play.

It was a “pretty brutal encounter,” Highlanders co-coach Simon Clarke said and finished under lights after two lengthy injury breaks.

The first stoppage was for a neck injury to Highlanders replacement prop Ariki Wineti but he was reported on Saturday night to be okay.  

Then with about 10 minutes to go Rams replacement Harry King broke his leg.

The Highlanders made the early running and led 10-3 at half-time but the Rams chipped away, kicking six clear with a field goal not long after the second resumption.

“We played pretty well,” Rams coach Barry Hoy said. “We controlled the phases pretty well.”

His only real complaint was that the backs “didn’t play that smart” when they got the ball in the heavy conditions.

Subsequently it was pretty much a forwards battle.

Hoy said he wasn’t too worried at half-time, he thought if they were patient it would come in the second half. 

Second rower Henry King was their best followed by Simon Newton and Ed Churchill.

Clarke said he couldn't pinpoint one thing that was the difference.

“It was quite even throughout the whole game,” he said.

It was just the little things again that hurt them.

“At the start of the game I was a little bit disappointed in our support play,” Clarke said.

They weren’t getting to the man. They also at times got trapped in their half.

“Especially in the first half we did quite a lot of defending,” he said.

Prop Brett Miller topped the points and was the players player. Will Hollingworth and winger Simon Clarke also had strong games.