Ryan Manning bagged a hat-trick and Jack Hartwig and Campbell Woolnough both crossed for doubles as Western's Laurie Daley Cup rampage continued via a 58-10 thumping of Monaro at Parkes on Sunday.
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The Rams' under 18s boys raced to a 34-0 lead over the Colts at the break and then kicked on in the second stanza too, Manning completing his treble with tries in the 63rd and 67th minute after plucking an intercept and racing 90 metres to score his first right on half-time.
Rightly so, the Western five-eighth says his side will head into the finals riding high after locking up top spot in the southern pool with an undefeated record following four rounds.
"We're feeling confident," Manning said.
Western defeated Illawarra South Coast Dragons 32-20 in the previous round and Manning said that result, although still a victory, spurred Kurt Hancock's side into action on home soil.
"We had a disappointing finish last week. We got the win but we weren't proud of ourselves," the Orange Hawks pivot said.
I didn't feel it in the legs. She was a bit jelly.
- Western's Ryan Manning, on his 90-metre intercept try
"We went back to our shapes and what we did best and we did well.
"Hank's (Kurt Hancock) big on our (defence), getting in there and slowing the ruck down and playing our shapes, using our speed … I think we did that well."
Western's first-half barrage started on the back of a try from Bathurst Panthers big man Nick Barlow in just the third minute, and really the Rams were relentless from there on.
Woolnough scored twice in three minutes darting out of dummy-half to rocket Western out to an 18-0 lead after 17 minutes and then tries to Hartwig, Dubbo CYMS' flier Noah Ryan and Manning right on the stroke of half-time to completely eliminate even the most remote thought of a Monaro comeback.
"I didn't feel it in the legs. She was a bit jelly," Manning laughed looking back at his 90-metre intercept effort.
Manning says he's growing into his role in the Western team, and is confident an already flourishing combination with Parkes centre Ben Lovett will continue to develop down the Rams' right edge.
Western's Johns Cup side also had a massive win, downing the colts 52-10, both sides take on the Greater Southern Region Wests Tigers at Bathurst on Saturday.
