CNRU Round 1: Matt Williams scores a double as Walcha overcome Scone 48-16

The New England opens' rep player of the year last year, Williams has joined the Rams from Armidale and was one of their best at inside centre.

More noted as a second rower/back rower, it wasn't a completely foreign role for him with Rams co-coach Barry Hoy noting that he played in the centres a bit for the Blues last year.

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It is a hole the Rams need to plug with no Pat Keen this season after undergoing surgery on his troublesome knee during the off season.

"He's a solid defender and he runs good lines, and he's a good hard runner," Hoy said of Williams.

"The way the game is now, other than set pieces most players have got to be able to do everything across the park."

Williams was one of several new faces in what was a very different looking Rams side, particularly in the backs.

As well as Keen there was no Dom Bower, Eddie Churchill, or the "grandfather" as Hoy joked they are calling him the only real regular face.

"He had a solid game (at five-eighth) directing them around pretty well," he said.

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They were a bit rusty early.

"We started slowly, it was a little bit scratchy, we made a few mistakes and gave them territory," Hoy said.

But some strong defence enabled the Rams to limit the damage.

"They defended for 10 minutes before they actually conceded any points," he said.

They were then with their first real bit of possession able to hit back, and on the back of two tries to Williams in the final 10 minutes of the first half took a 24-13 lead into half-time.

They then ran in another four tries in the second half to pull away for a convincing win.

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"It was a danger one (game) for us. We had three blokes at a wedding and two close COVID contacts and hence had to forfeit second grade, which put pressure on our numbers," Hoy said.

"You lose those early games and you're always playing catch-up at the end of the season," he said.

He thought 18-year old half-back Matt Tisdell was also good for them along with Richie Hunt up front.

In the other game Inverell applied the afterburners in the second half to account for Moree 46-22. After leading by only four points late in the first half, the Highlanders ran in five second half tries to stretch the final margin out to 24.

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