A strong start to the match saw Robbie Samson snatch the ball out of the air and put it down for the first try which was converted by Steven Dengate to give the team a 6-nil lead.

Dylan Jordan burrowed in from dummy half to score and give the Rams a 10-nil lead but the team began to tire towards the end of the first half.

Wallsend Maryland’s larger pack stormed through the middle to hit back with a try before the break.

After half time, Jye King and Logan Parker continued the hard one-on-one defence they had shown in the first half and stopped many of the opposition’s raids. 

Muswellbrook’s forwards were making good metres and John Page took advantage, sneaking around Wallsend’s defence to score before converting his own try.

The Rams were now full of confidence and Page ran into a gap to score his second try. Will Cannon then showed his skills, scooting from dummy half and running through the opposition to score another try for the Rams.

The Wallsend Maryland team were cracked open again by James Noack, who scored under the posts and Nathan Wilton converted. In the under-16s, the Rams came away with a 30-6 victory against West Newcastle.

Early tries to Ben Talty and Bryce Beverstock and two conversions by Bailey Taylor saw the Rams lead 12-0.

The match then turned into a tight struggle, and Wests hit back with a converted try to make the score12-6 at half-time. The second half started how the first half finished until the Rams finally turned the screws with defensive pressure and possession.

A try to dummy-half Joaby Stevens and a conversion by Bailey Taylor put the match out of reach.

The flood gates then opened and one of the side’s stars, Talty, bagged another two tries. 

The players’ player award went to Brodie Colins, Bailey Taylor, Joaby Stevens and Brock Farrell.

Meanwhile, the under-11s were beaten by Scone White at Merriwa on May 5 despite the heroic efforts of Brody Perry. The speedster bolted the length of the field to score twice, but Scone White claimed a 36-22 win.

Jye Taylor had a cracker of a game and, along with the rejuvenated Man of The Match Reagan Holstein, helped set up the first try of the season for front rower Angus Williams.

Other impressive performances came from Jack Thomas, Matthew Kendell, Ryan Copland, Thalia Corliss and Luke Motbey.