Western's high-fling Andrew Johns Cup outfit has completed a tricky two-game stint on the road, the Rams storming to a 30-8 victory over the Illawarra South Coast Dragons at Figtree on Sunday.
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The 22-point win comes a week after Western held firm to knock off Riverina 26-16 at West Wyalong and Tony Woolnough's undefeated under 16s side is perfectly placed to cement a finals position when it takes on Monaro this Sunday at Parkes.
A win at Pioneer Oval will guarantee Western a top two finish in the southern pool, and in turn a place in the semi-finals.
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The second-placed Colts will pose Western with its toughest challenge to date but Woolnough is confident the young Rams are up to the task, particularly back on home soil.
More specifically, he knows their defence can measure up.
“It's been the same story every game, our defence has been great," Woolnough said looking at Sunday's win on the South Coast.
“They scored one try and another from an intercept ... our defence was outstanding."
And, on Sunday, so too was Western's attack.
There’s some talent there ... we're going well at the moment, really well.
- Western under 16s coach Tony Woolnough.
South Dubbo flier Brandan Hamilton bagged another try down Western's right edge to take his Johns Cup tally to five in three games while Braye Porter, Jackson Gersbach, Matt Noakes and Jesse Shorter all found the line.
Noakes completed a fine game with five from five with the boot to bag 14 individual points but Woolnough said Sunday's performance was more about the team as whole.
“Everyone is playing well. I can’t pick a bad player out. They're all doing their job," he said.
“There’s some talent there, my job is to just try and get them together and play as a team and we're going well at the moment, really well.
"It's enjoyable to see them come together.”
Western takes on Monaro at Parkes on Sunday, March 10.
- WESTERN RAMS 30 (Braye Porter, Brandan Hamilton, Jackson Gersbach, Matt Noakes, Jesse Shorter tries; Matt Noakes 5 goals) def ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS 8 (J Nelson 2 tries)