Pat Keen bagged his second hat-trick in as many games as Walcha produced a second half masterclass at Tamworth Rugby Park on Saturday to trounce Tamworth 64-nil.
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The Rams showed why they are being touted as title contenders as they ran in 50 unanswered points to blow the Magpies away.
The home side was in the game at the break despite possession and territory being heavily slanted in the Rams’ favour, although appeared to be just holding on. Only some valiant defence and a propensity from the Rams to throw the miracle ball kept the scoreline 14-nil.
The Rams should have had at least another three tries.
In the second half the onslaught that had been brewing in the first half came to fruition, the Rams running in five tries in the first 20 minutes to secure the bonus point and put the game to bed.
They struck almost instantly through five-eighth Simon Newton, and were in again a couple of minutes later from a turnover around half-way. With their first instinct to attack, the Rams sent the ball wide to Dom Bower, who stepped around his opposite Lachie McIntosh, and linked up with Keen in support.
Their eighth try was even more spectacular and exemplified the potency the Rams possess, and just how quickly they can switch from defence to attack.
The Magpies were enjoying a rare period of possession and pressing their line but the ball came loose. Rather than kick out of danger Newton elected to run.
Stepping through the defence he ran to about 10m short of half-way. With options both sides, he opted for Keen, who raced away to complete his hat-trick.
Newton was a central figure for the Rams all day. He was a constant handful for the Magpies defence and had a definitive hand in most of the Rams’ tries.
The signs were promising for the Magpies early. Unable to string phases together in the first round, they held the ball for the best part of the opening two minutes, and were rewarded in the form of a penalty.
But Pat Strong sprayed the kick to the left.
They got another chance a couple of minutes later but Strong was again unable to convert.
Not long after Bower opened the scoring for the Rams, chiming in from the blind, and any momentum the Magpies had was erased when Ed Churchill grabbed the Rams’ second a couple of minutes later.
In other games Gunnedah had a hard fought 27-9 win over Quirindi, Moree saw off Narrabri 45-15, Pirates were 42-7 victors over Barraba and Scone edged out Inverell 16-13.
