Rams on verge of big league
The Southland Rams are one win away from a spot in a new national regional rugby league competition
Southland has recorded back-to-back wins in the South Island provincial rugby league competition.
The Rams beat the Otago Whalers 18-10 at the Gore Showgrounds on Saturday to make it two wins from two games in 2016.
Saturday’s win came on the back of the victory over the Tasman Titans in week one.
With one game to play against the West Coast, Southland are in a strong position to advance to a new national regional competition.
While it wasn’t a completely convincing performance against Otago Southland still did enough to pick up the important win.
The Rams scored an early try through Daniel Low.
Southland forwards Chee Turuwhenua, Suesue Aliivaa, Willy Pera, Chez Cameron and captain Dylan Lovett, were hungry for work and made it hard for Otago to get back into the tussle.
A few unforced errors from Southland cost them and Otago was able to cross out wide.
The next 20 minutes saw Southland cling onto a two point lead.
However, Southland was able to strike again on the back of a high mid-field bomb from fullback Heath Roberts.
The Rams pressure from the chase forced an Otago error which led to Low’s second try of the game.
Jayleel Faamoe-Ioane added the extras to take the half time score of 12-4 to Southland.
A mistake from the kick off by Southland gave Otago a perfect start to the second half with a try as they reduced the gap to 12-10.
Otago continued to pour the pressure on the Rams during the next 35 minutes.
Neither team was giving up but Southland’s forwards continued to provide a strong foundation for the backs which eventually led to Logo Peteru crossing out wide with five minutes to play extending the Rams lead to 18-10.
It set up an intense final five minutes as both teams scrapped over the all-important win and it was Southland who hung to the 18-10 victory.
Dylan Lovett and Chee Turuwhenua were two standout players for the Rams over Otago.
A victory over West Coast this weekend could set up a home game in the new national competition on September 10.
Southland Rams manager Alana Lockhorst said the prospect of taking part in a national competition was exciting.
‘‘If Southland gets this huge opportunity to host a national game, the boys are going to need the help of the Southland community to come forward and make this a game to remember.’’
‘‘We wouldn’t have even made it this far without the ILT support, we are so grateful and thankful to them. As a small league community our hearts together as one are so big. We have visions and dreams, we just need Southland to believe in us.’’