Central North Rugby Round 15: Gunnedah come from behind to pip Walcha 26-24

Sanimo Navatu was a super sub for the Red Devils, with the powerhouse crashing over with six minutes to play to lock up the scores at 24-all. Skipper James Perrett added the extras from in front to give the home side the lead, for the first time in the game, and they held on for a memorable come-from-behind win.

Second game into what is a tough run to finish the season, Perrett said it was a "massive" result for the side.

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"It keeps us on top of the table and keeps us focused and motivated for the last three games," he said.

They have the giant-killing Scone this week followed by a top-of-the table match-up with Narrabri at home before venturing up to Moree.

Whatever happens they are assured of a finals spot with the win taking them to 16 points clear of the fifth-placed Bulls with a maximum of 15 available.

They will take as much out of how they achieved the win, as the result itself.

Perrett admitted to having flashbacks to their first round encounter (they were pummeled 50-7) when the Rams were up 10-nil inside 15 minutes.

"We started extremely flat in the first half, we were pretty terrible to be honest," he said.

"There just wasn't any energy".

Somehow they were able to limit the damage.

"I said to the boys at half-time this is a miracle that we've played like we have and it's only 19-7," Perrett said.

"We all knew what we could do and we had to get back to it."

"The second half was just a completely different half."

The forwards led the resurgence. Pushed around in the scrum in the first half, they got more parity there and started to win a few more lineouts, and in general were able to get more of a roll-on through the forwards, which then gave them a better platform to work off.

The Rams did score early in the second half to make it 24-7, but from there Perrett felt like they had the momentum.

Steven Leuta got them within a try with just under 20 to play. He also had a key hand in the match-winner, bouncing out from the ruck, after they had been picking and driving on an undermanned Rams' line, with Richie Hunt in the bin, for several phases, and finding Navatu on the inside run.

Will Burke, Ron Hobden and Lachy Mack were all strong for the Devils in the forwards while Jamie Mitchell and Junior Nasilivata were good in the centres.

Wally Davidson back in his customary spot at the back of the scrum after starting in the centres the last four games, scored the Rams' first two tries.

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