It wasn't pretty, but they got the job done.
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Under 16s Western Rams coach Tony Woolnough said his side's first team-run together was exactly what you'd expect from the young gun's debut.
I was very happy with the defensive effort, it was a very strong showing, especially keeping them to just one try...
- Coach Tony Woolnough
"It was a bit messy, for sure, but that's always expected in the first team run, and the first real run they've had together as a team against someone else, you can't expect too much," Woolnough said.
Despite being under pressure throughout nearly the entirety of their trial match against the Riverina Bulls at Spooner Oval in Forbes, the Rams held tight to restrict the Bulls to only one consolation try.
"I was very happy with that defensive effort, it was a very strong showing, especially keeping them to just that one try, but there's still a lot of work to do," Woolnough said.
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The junior Rams opened the scoring early and held off any chance of a Riverina counter-attack before a momentary lapse cost them their 4 - 0 lead in the final quarter.
Not to be outdone, Woolnough's squad struck back late to drive the score out to 8 - 4 and end the Bulls' hopes of a late comeback.
Woolnough described the outlook for the squad as very positive, with three more weeks, including a further trial game this coming weekend, before a final decision has to be made on the 24 current hopefuls.
"It's definitely starting to come together now, there's some real, definite talent in this side, we've just got to work with them over these next few weeks," Woolnough said.
"I'm really excited to see what happens, everyone was having that kind of messy game, so there's still a fair bit of work to do with that squad of 24 we've got at the moment, but we'll make the decisions soon."
Despite the win, Woolnough says the competition has definitely tightened following last year's successful run that was sadly cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's definitely tougher, I was even speaking to their coach after the game and they still had three players trialling with the Raiders, if those boys don't make that squad, they'll come back, so it'll be a much harder competition," Woolnough said.
"Having said that, we've still got a few at Penrith trialling with the Panthers that we're waiting to hear back about."
This weekend the Rams junior side will have another chance to develop as they head to Kandos, to trial again against the Northern representative side.