It may not have been the result they wanted, but the Armidale Rams can draw a number of positives from Sunday’s 44-28 loss at Moree.
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Like the majority of Group 19s eastern-based teams, the Rams weren’t able to bring back the points from Moree, but unlike the other sides, they pushed the reinvigorated Boars to the very end.
“They were just a bit too good for us in the end,” Rams president Terry Carson said.
“But we played pretty well.”
Armidale opened the scoring through veteran prop Laurie Craig early in the match, but that may have only sparked the Boars into gear.
Moree scored the next three tries to lead 18-4 before the Rams got two of their own back just before half time to trail 18-14.
“We were fairly confident at half time,” Carson said.
“But we let ourselves down in the second half a bit.
“We’d get behind a couple of tries and then we’d get back into it and make a mistake.”
The Boars set the tone early in the second half, scoring from the opening set of six.
Armidale were able to keep pace and fought their way back to 34-28 late in the second half, but faltered late.
“We got it back to 34-28 and dropped the kick off,” Carson said.
“They scored two tries and it was gone.”
Moree hooker Stan Swan ran riot for the Boars and along with Brenton Cochrane may have been the difference between the two sides.
“Everything came off the back of him [Swan],” Carson said. “Cochrane was a handful.
“He scored their first try and set up a heap of others.”
Fred Waters scored a double for the Rams, while captain-coach Clarrie Moran and new recruit Alistair Faulkner also stood out.
“Alistair was great, nearly our best,” Carson said.
“Clarrie was great at lock, got through plenty of defence.”