THEIR completion rate left a lot to be desired, but when the under 16 Western Rams did have the ball on Sunday they did enough damage to move into third place on the Andrew Johns Cup ladder.
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The Rams twice came from behind at Blayney's King George Oval to beat the Greater Southern Region Tigers 18-16, the victory their third from four rounds of the Country Championships.
It was with 14 minutes remaining that second rower Tobias Miller stepped his way over the line to put the Rams in front and while there were some nervous moments before full-time - including the Tigers forcing a line drop-out - the hosts held on.
The boys made it hard with a few dropped balls, but we really stuck in there and got it done. I definitely thought the boys would have held in there after I scored, they had their heads up high.
- Tobias Miller
"The boys made it hard with a few dropped balls, but we really stuck in there and got it done. I definitely thought the boys would have held in there after I scored, they had their heads up high," Miller, who plays his club football for Parkes, said.
"Their two forwards were very strong in the middle, but us boys just stuck in there. All our boys really put their bodies on the line, one of the boys [Tallis Tobin] got hurt, he was almost knocked out.
"That's how hard he was trying to defend. We've only lost one game, so if we can win next week we'll be going through to the finals.
"We just have to make sure we do not do silly things, no silly balls, and just take the tackle."
They completed just three sets in the opening 20 minutes of the match, while the first 15 minutes after the break was even worse.
However, with the likes of prop Tom Negus and second rower Bayden Moran, also of Parkes, making good yards each to carry the Rams, created enough attacking chances to get the job done.
While Tigers scored at the seven minute mark following a Rams knock-on, seven minutes later, as the hosts played out just their second set of the contest, the lead changed.
Moran burst through a tackle and charged over the line with Brad Fuller's conversion taking it to 6-4. Halfback Fuller then crossed before the break to push the margin out to six.
When Rams centre Lachlan Lawson scored 79 seconds into the second period after the Tigers had knocked-on, the score progressed to 14-4.
But the Tigers' replacement props turned moment with strong carries. That, combined with Rams' errors, saw the visitors score twice in four minutes and take a 16-14 lead.
Finally, as the game entered the last 15 minutes, the Rams enjoyed some quality possession. They made it count as Miller used good foot work and strength to score the match winner.
- WESTERN RAMS 18 (Lachlan Lawson, Brad Fuller, Bayden Moran, Tobias Miller tries; Brad Fuller goal) def GREATER SOUTHERN REGION TIGERS 16 (Aiman Yaghi, Ethan Youkhana, Jordan Miller tries; Oliver Kaluzyn 2 goals)
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