A sensational opening 20 minutes had Armidale Rams fans confident of an upset against high-flying competition leaders Inverell Hawks on Saturday at Blush Tomatoes Rugby League Park.
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The Hawks were quick to wash those high hopes away with a devastating display in the ensuing 60 minutes that confirmed their odds-on premiership favouritism and secure a 58-22 win
“They were too good for us,” Rams president Terry Carson conceded.
“We were all over them in the first 15 and then we had a couple of calls go against us and they got the momentum and we couldn’t get it back.” Wes Kelly was back to peak form for the Rams after starting from the bench last weekend.
The hard-running centre opened the scoring early on and when Travis Naylor scored shortly after the Rams led 12-nil.
Then the Hawks decided to show up.
Armidale didn’t touch the ball a single time as the Hawks ran in four quick tries to snare a 22-12 lead in the blink of an eye.
When the Rams finally got their hands on the ball again, in-form second rower Garry Quinlan kept his trying scoring run going with a late four-pointer in the first half to reduce the deficit to 22-18.
But again Inverell got the last laugh with a try of their own as the half-time hooter sounded. The second half well and truly belonged to the Hawks, as they ran in a feast of tries to score 30 second half points as the Rams managed just one try.
“I was confident when we led early, but I knew they wouldn’t go away” Carson said.
“Mep [Guy Mepham] just tore us apart from dummy half.
“Our defence just wasn’t good enough at the end of the day.
“We really missed Steve Widders in the middle.”
Carson though Kelly was his side’s best, while Quinlan was strong as always.
“Wes was a handful all day,” he said.