Even those who thought Walcha were a good chance of toppling Pirates couldn't have predicated what transpired at Ken Chillingworth Oval on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Rams didn't just beat the premiers in their grand final replay, they thrashed them, themanor of which Pirates haven't experienced in a long time.
After putting on a first half masterclass to lead 29-nil at the break of an at times firey contest, the Rams didn't let up in the second half to run out 65-14 winners.
They were simply 'shear class'.
They outplayed Pirates in every facet of the game.
Even in the scrum where Pirates have dominated them in recent meetings, they - to much satisfaction - got the better of the home side.
Significantly twice on Pirates feed they had them under pressure and scored points off the back of it. The first instance they earned a penalty, which skipper Simon Newton converted for their first points of the game.
Then with about half an hour remaining they pushed an, albeit undermanned Pirates scrum with Jimmy Schwager in the sin bin, almost over the tryline before eventually scoring through winger Jacob Sherrin.
For Rams co-coach Barry Hoy the scrum was one of the pleasing aspects of what he rated one of the most complete performance he has seen from them.
The other was the try they scored right at the end of the game.
Simple, but pretty to watch as the Rams in a few passes swept their way from a scrum around half-way to the right hand corner, for Hoy it wasn't so much how the try was constructed but what it represented.
"They stuck to it," he said.
"Once they got on top they didn't let them back into it."
Newton said they just the did the simple things right and smothered Pirates' ball.
"We just starved them of the ball in the end. We just retained the ball and our defence was good, and our infringements were minimal for once so that's a big bonus for us," he said.
There was a real venom in their defence and they got off the line quickly to shut Pirates runners down before they could build any momentum.
"The biggest thing is obviously try and keep the hands off the ball but take the extra step so we can move up" Newton said.
"We've always been a team that tries to move up quick but often gets pinged for offside. So we're working on our line speed and trying not to fall off tackles."
Complimenting that, aside from a few early fumbles which prevented them from converting their early pressure and territory into points, the Rams attack was clinical and potent, Newton linking up with his runners superbly.
"We got a bit more depth today but that only comes with going forward," he said.
"I think our forwards made more metres today than we have previously and they worked well and set a platform so we could use a bit of speed and put a few moves together."
Making a cameo appearance on the wing Pat Keen grabbed a hat-trick, while outside centre Ed Cordingley crossed for a double.
Newton thought breakaway Sione Kamato was outstanding.
"Our whole forward pack played quite well and I think we gelled a bit better in the backs," he said.
The only sour note was a dislocated ankle to blindside Henry King. Half-time was called early while they waited for an ambulance for him.
Pirates coach Mat Kelly was succinct in his appraisal admitting they were pretty well schooled all over the park.
"We deserved everything we got today," he said.
"We were way off the mark and Walcha deserved everything they got."
He had stated going into the game that their defence would be where it was won and lost, and they were "very poor there".
Not only falling off tackles but standing back and letting the Rams run at them.
Their illdiscipline didn't help them.
"Our discipline was probably one of the most disappointing things," he said.
"We're a better side than what we displayed for everyone today and there's not a boy in our side there that's very happy with themselves."
