They left having again surrendered a psychological advantage to Pirates - the home side winning the arm wrestle, in an absorbing contest, to finish strongly and triumph 40-23 on an overcast and cold day.

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The victory moved Pirates from fourth to second on the ladder, six points behind Narrabri, while Walcha dropped from second to fourth.

Three-try hero Nick McCrohon - filling in at No 8 for Conrad Starr - described the victory as "huge", as the reigning four-time premiers received a major momentum boost to start the second half of the season.

"I can't really take any credit," McCrohon said. "The boys really turned up today.

"That's the level of footy we're used to playing. It's good to be back at that level."

Pirates scored first when McCrohon drove through Walcha's defences on the tryline in the third minute.

Eight minutes later, Pirates No 14 Oliver Wright showed good hustle inside the Rams' 22m area to cross out wide. Veteran five-eighth Andrew Moodie converted: 12-0.

Walcha's first points came via a 15th minute penalty goal to No 10 Dom Bower, with their first try coming in the 28th minute when No 8 Wally Davidson crashed over and Bower converted: 12-10.

The Rams took the lead after Bower landed a penalty goal in the 39th minute: 13-12 at the break.

The arm wrestle continued in the second half.

First, McCrohon scored a strong close-range try in the 51st minute. Moodie slotted the easy conversion: 19-13 Pirates.

Soon after that, Rams No 2 Richie Hunt burrowed over. Bower added the extras: 20-19.

In the 58th minute, Wright crossed in the corner after finishing off an great movement - with No 9 Jackson Sharpe, in his 50th first-grade match, firing an excellent final pass. Moodie concerted: 26-20 to Pirates.

A Bower penalty goal reduced the margin to 26-23, before Pirates found a higher gear to run in two tries.

McCrohon's third try came after Pirates advanced the ball from a scrum close to Walcha's tryline, and was followed by No 2 Tim Collins' bulldozing effort.

Both tries were celebrated with zest.

"That's what we've been begging for," McCrohon said of the side's performance.

Pirates 40 (N McCrohon 3, O Wright 2, T Collins tries; A Moodie 5 con) d Walcha 23 (W Davidson, R Hunt, tries; D Bower 3 pen, 2 con).