A HAT-TRICK of tries to Parkes' Darby Medlyn piloted a ruthless under-18s Western Rams side to a massive 54-4 win against the Greater Southern Redbacks in round two of the AAMI Country Championships on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Played at Cowra's Sid Kallas Oval, the Rams crossed for 11 tries, showcasing a clinical display of attacking football, while the defence was at times brutal propelling countless Redbacks sets inside their own half.
Dubbo Macquarie enforcer Luke Gale scored one of his side's tries while Rams coach Cameron Greenhalgh identified the performances of Forbes' Mitch Andrews and Blayney Bear Lachie Farr post-match.
"Lachie Farr at the back shut down raids by the Redbacks with some massive hits some of the biggest hits I've seen on a rugby league field," Greenhalgh said.
"Mitch Andrews in the centre was really good last week and again today he took some handling so pretty happy across the board but the two big guys Mitch and Lachie were outstanding."
Andrews scored the game's opening try in the 13th minute capping off a swift back-line movement and Warren Baxter converted.
Medlyn posted back-to-back tries before the break and the Rams lead 16-0 with the second 35 minute half still install.
"We talked about picking up our urgency just getting on loose balls and pairing up a little bit. We were playing a bit one out in the first half and that played into the Redbacks hands. I wanted to fix that in the second half and the boys did that," Greenhalgh said of his side's half-time talk.
They certainly listened, the Rams came out firing in the second period crossing for eight tries in a hugely dominant half of football.
Baxter scored first crossing on the wing before Medlyn completed his hat-trick during the 45th minute and the lead was out to 26 points.
Lachie Farr was next to touchdown before Clayton Couley, Rick Nobes, Luke Gale and Adam Fearnley all scored in a final 20 minute shellacking.
The Redbacks crossed once during the second half but it was nothing but a consolation.
The result was Western's second victory in the Southern Division from as many rounds and they head into next week's contest with the Greater Southern Stingrays full of confidence.
"Obviously we have next week, I'd like to get another win their it'll be tough all these games are tough and I suppose in a couple of weeks times it really starts so we need to playing some really good footy leading into that," Greenhalgh said before talking about the day's performance.
"The first half was a bit of a grind, I guess the scoreline wasn't really a good indication of how tough it was early.
"We came out the other side the strongest and I was really happy with how we finished it off going into next week.
"Their try came off one of our mistakes so I can't be too critical. Our defence was pretty good I think four or five times we held them over the line so really happy with the defence that's what gets you the wins," he said.
WESTERN RAMS 54 (Darby Medlyn 3, Mitch Andrews, Warren Baxter, Lachie Farr, Clayton Couley, Rick Nobes, Luke Gale, Adam Fearnley tries; Baxter 7 con.) defeated GREATER SOUTHERN REDBACKS 4 (Justin Jones try)