Western has produced its best half of footy of the 2019 Andrew Johns Cup to effectively blow semi-final opponents the Greater Northern Tigers off the park in 30 brutal minutes at Forster on Sunday.
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Skipper Finnley Neilson scored inside the opening five minutes and from there the Rams raced to a 30-0 lead by the break, the match wrapped up with a 44-4 Western victory.
The point-a-minute first-half Ram-bush brought a smile to the face of coach Tony Woolnough and sent a very clear message to Western's under 16s country championship grand final opposition the Northern Rivers Titans.
"We certainly came out firing," Woolnough said.
"It's probably the best half of football we've played all competition."
We certainly came out firing.
- Rams under 16s coach Tony Woolnough on his side's hot start against the Tigers.
The 2019 finals will be staged on Saturday at Mudgee and both Rams sides have qualified thanks to stunning semi-final appearances.
Woolnough's under 16s will be joined by Western's under 18s after they won a compelling Daley Cup semi-final with the Parramatta Eels 22-12.
The Johns and Daley Cup competitions started in 2016 and in that time, following Sunday's victories, Western has qualified for seven of the eight deciders across both age groups.
"(The Titans) are a very good side," Woolnough said looking ahead.
"They're well structured and they've got some really good players. We'll have to put our best performance of the competition in to get the win.
We fell away in the second half there but if we can put together two halves of football like we did in the first half (last Sunday) I'll be happy.
Neilson scored the match's last try to complete a superb skipper's knock while St John's Dubbo fullback Braye Porter and Lithgow half Cooper Egan snagged a brace each.
Porter, Egan, hooker Fletcher Haycock and five-eighth Kyle Mawhinney drew immense praise for their efforts in the semi-final but it was Western's pack that paved the way.
"They play tough, they're a good bunch of kids. They're like sponges, the whole team, they all want to learn," Woolnough added.
Woolnough believes the positive environment his side has created will ensure it heads into the final at Mudgee's Glen Willow confident.
As will Kurt Hancock's under 18s on the back of a tremendous 10-point win over a tough Eels side.
The Rams opened the scoring early on the back of a barnstorming run from Parkes Spacemen centre Ben Lovett.
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He charged on to the ball on an unders run and produced a lightning quick play-the-ball, with hooker Campbell Woolnough then finding Dragons prop Nick Bennett who crashed over under the sticks for a 6-0 lead.
It was a lead they never relented, either, further tries to Woolnough, Noah Ryan and Lovett helping Western to a 22-12 win, booking a spot in their third Daley Cup final in four years.
The championship finals are at Mugdee on Saturday, with the women's and under 23s grand finals at Glen Willow as well.
SEMI-FINAL SCORES:
JOHNS CUP:
- WESTERN RAMS 44 (B Porter 2, C Egan 2, F Neilson 2, K Mawhinney, F Haycock, C Egan tries; M Noakes 5, A Warwick goals) def GREATER NORTHERN TIGERS 4 (P Dixon try)
DALEY CUP:
- WESTERN RAMS 22 (C Woolnough, N Bennett, N Ryan, B Lovett tries; T Colley 3 goals) def PARRAMATTA EELS 12 (C Bateup, P Taateo tries;S Russell 2 goals)
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
