Moree survived a second half fightback from Barraba/Gwydir to hold on for a 24-17 win at Gwydir on Saturday.
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Backing up from last weekend’s Country Championships where he played for Mid North Coast, Josh Walker crossed for a double and helped the Bulls to a 14-nil lead at half-time.
They probably should have been up by more, coach Peter Copeman said.
“We butchered a few tries, which probably cost us at half-time,” he said.
“[But] They’re a good side. They’ll trouble a few sides.”
Illdiscipline hurt the Bulls in the second half, losing two players to the sin-bin. The Rams took full advantage scoring twice to get themselves back into the game.
The Bulls hit back to push their advantage out again, but the Rams scored again to set up a grandstand finish.
“Right to the end they kept pressuring us but our defence was pretty good,” Copeman said.
It was strong all game.
Even when they were down to 13 and 14 they still defended well, he said, the Rams two tries coming from rolling mauls.
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The scrum was also “pretty handy”.
“The backs were a little bit disjointed with Jordy (Jordan Cosh) not being there but had some good moments and made some good inroads but just couldn’t finish off,” Copeman said.
Nick Smith ran the show well at half-back and picked up the three points ahead of number eight Lachlan Smith and five-eighth Jamie Sampson.
Sampson is a new addition this season but the former league star has been directing the show well and brings an element of unpredictability.
“Every time he gets his hands on the ball you expect something to happen. He’s that sort of player,” Copeman said.
Rams coach Mark Harris said it was a game of two halves from his side, and while lamenting a slow start said there were a lot of positives.
“We scored 17 points in the second half. That’s something positive to take into next week,” he said.
“We just need to start games a little bit better and for us to get the points on the board early.”
He felt they showed the Bulls a bit too much respect in the first half and stood off them in defence, much to their detriment.
“We had a bit of a go in the second half. The forwards started playing a bit better,” he said.
“A couple of boys stepped up.”
Captain Will Robinson was one of those and really led from the front. Lachlan Mack also had a strong game.
Harris thought they possibly could have snatched it – or at least a draw – but that last pass just went astray a couple of times.
“When we get in good areas we need to keep the ball and be patient,” he said.
