It was easy to see the Armidale Rams and Guyra Super Spuds rivalry was still alive and well on Saturday.
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The Super Spuds have been easy beats for the majority of Group 19 teams in their return season to the competition, but their passion for upsetting their arch-rivals from 40km south on the New England Highway has made for two cracking games of rugby league in 2015.
Guyra led 14-nil after just 15 minutes at Armidale Blush Tomatoes Rugby League Park on Saturday.
“It was a bit stressful at times,” Rams president Terry Carson said of a frustrating opening quarter of the game.
“We dropped six or seven balls in that time and gave away a fair few penalties away too.
“It’s hard to get yourself into a game when you do that.”
The early deficit kicked the Rams into gear and they clawed their way back to lead 18-14 at half time.
Most weeks Guyra would have folded early in the second half, but not against the Rams.
The Spuds fought their way back to 24-all at one stage in the final stanza.
Armidale had too much fire power in the dying stages and put on 20 unanswered points to run out 44-24 winners.
While pleased to eventually get the win Carson was far from impressed with the overall performance.
“After it was 24-all we blew them away,” he said.
“But we had 19 dropped balls for the game.
“That is bad.
“But I have to give Guyra credit, they play with a lot of enthusiasm.”
Steve Widders was named man of the match for a trademark busy performance from lock.
“Steve was great,” Carson said.
“Alistair [Faulkner] and Jordan [Wakefield] were good too. “They got us going.”
Faulkner scored a double as did Charlie Ahoy and Steve Quinlan.