The Rams far from had it their own way though, with the Highlanders within two at half-time.

“They had to work to get to where they wanted to be,” coach Barry Hoy said.

The rhythm wasn't quite there early for the home side, but midway through the second half they started to get it together, and the Highlanders had little answer to them.

Skipper Simon Newton and winger Richard Young both crossed for doubles. Newton started at breakaway, but shifted into the centres in the second half, the backs cashing in on the great work of the forwards.

Hoy had said heading in defence would be what would win it, and praised his side’s defence.

“Their attitude in defence was critical,” Hoy said, pointing to one stage early in the first half where they defended their line for about four or five minutes before eventually earning a turnover.

He said everyone played well but did make mention of Newton and Soni Halanukonuka, and Joe Makeham, who was again impressive coming off the bench.

Highlanders co-coach Simon Clarke was disappointed with his side’s second half.

“We fell away a bit,” he said.

“I honestly felt the boys had the momentum going into the second half. But you can't take anything away from Walcha. They've got a good outfit and kept the pressure on.”

Their last round showing against Narrabri had instilled Clarke with a lot of confidence.

The way they held their structure he thought, if they could just finish off the chances they created – they probably had four “really good opportunities to score” that they missed – they could get the result.

But in the second half they just couldn't really build any pressure.

Just little things let them down like their discipline, and their lineout, which was “atrocious”.

“It's the worst it's gone,” he said.

Clarke was still happy with what his side achieved this year.