ASHFORD Roosters and Armidale Rams shared the same initials and shared the same fate after great starts in their Group 19 clashes at home on Saturday.
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Both sides led but both lost, Ashford to the visiting Moree Boars 44-28 and the Rams 58-22 to the Inverell Hawks.
Glen Innes Magpies overcame a spirited effort from Guyra Spuds and their own lacklustre performance to post a 44-22 victory at Kerry Mead Park, Glen Innes.
The home side led 34-4 at halftime but were outplayed in the second half as Guyra took control, at one stage scoring three tries in just five minutes.
Hooker Todd Cameron and centre Craig Browne each posted try-scoring doubles and were the Magpies’ best while Guyra halfback Kyle Mongta grabbed a hat-trick.
Hooker Beau Orchard and prop Scott Miller also had strong performances for the Spuds.
“That was very disappointing,” Magpie coach Nick Ehsman said.
“We played for 20 minutes and that was all in the first half but Guyra came ready to play, which is a pointer to the competitive nature of matches between the two clubs over many years.”
Moree Boomerangs defeated Warialda Wombats 40-16 yesterday while the Ashford Roosters seemed to be headed for the biggest upset of the round when they led the Moree Boars 20-4 in the first half and then 28-22 with 20 minutes to go on their home turf.
However the Boars rallied on the back of some Brenton Cochrane inspiration to post 22 points late and win at Ashford Sportsground.
“We led 20-4 at one stage,” club president Mick Lewis said.
“We had a great start and then led 28-22 with 20 to go but then Brenton Cochrane weaved some of his magic against some tired defenders.”
Cochrane and hooker Stan Swan, who scored two tries, carved up the Rooster defence, with Swan’s destructive running from dummy half also a highlight.
While beaten, Lewis was impressed by the Roosters.
“We were in it for a long way and we did have a couple of players out too,” he said.
“We rate the Boars right up there with the Hawks and the Boomerangs.
“To get that close to one of the top sides is a real confidence booster for us.
“We haven’t got to improve a great deal to be able to match it with the best sides,” he said.
Centre Rod Blair was a standout for Ashford with three tries while the three big forwards – Kyle Hartley, Buster Chard and Matthew Lewis – all played big minutes.
Luke Berger was another Rooster standout in what Lewis described as “a real team effort”.
At Armidale Rugby League Park, the Rams also jumped out of the blocks, Rams club president Terry Carson said.
“We started really well, led 12-nil after 10 or 15 minutes but then they (Hawks) took control and just rolled through us. They gave us a flogging.”
Wes Kelly, who scored two tries, was best for the Rams, Carson said, while Gary Quinlan also featured.
Carson also had some pleasing news for Greater Northern Tigers coach Darryl Rando too.
“Guy Mepham destroyed us,” he said of the Hawk and GN Tiger number nine.
“He was the big difference today.”
Mepham and his fellow GN Tigers will meet again tomorrow night at Werris Creek’s David Taylor Park for a second training session before heading to Bathurst on Friday and Saturday’s Country Championship match against Western Rams.
