WHEN you're trying to upset the undefeated competition leaders on their home turf possession is crucial, but completing sets was something the Western Rams struggled with in Saturday's Presidents Cup match against the Maitland Pickers.
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It ultimately led to them suffering a 58-4 loss at Maitland Sportsground.
With not enough football to mount sustained attacking pressure and having to spend big minutes defending, the Rams were unable to build on a promising start to the match.
They went from 12-4 down at the 12 minute mark - second rower Bailey Hartwig crossing for the Rams - to finding themselves 30 points behind at half-time.
With Maitland's outfit including the classy halves pairing of Brock Lamb and Chris O'Donnell, chasing such a deficit was too big an ask for the Rams.
Lamb, who previously played for the Newcastle Knight, Sydney Roosters and London Broncos, produced a personal tally of 22 points while O'Donnell scored a hat-trick of tries.
"The first five minutes was a bit of an arm wrestle, we made a couple of breaks and they looked a little bit vulnerable in defence, but we just didn't have the ball enough to be able to capitalise on that," Rams coach Cameron Greenhalgh said.
"We'd just come up with that error - dropped kicks and stuff like that, balls not finding the mark. That really hurt us, they got on a roll and got momentum going.
"We were obviously turning over too much ball, especially in the first half, and that's been our downfall I suppose, not getting enough ball in the first half and having to defend too much.
"They scored some really good tries too, they were a good side. We were beaten in all aspects."
Pickers captain Alex Langbridge praised the performances of both Lamb, who crossed for the opening try and kicked nine conversions from 10 attempts, and O'Donnell.
"They were outstanding," the Maitland hooker said. "Lamby is just a class above and you can tell he's an NRL player. Chady was really good as well, it was probably his best game this year."
O'Donnell completed his triple midway through the second half, Maitland fullback Daniel Langbridge scored twice while Matt Soper-Lawler, James Bradley, Ben Ireland and Cal Burgess also collected four pointers.
While well beaten, Greenhalgh did point to a better effort from his side in the second stanza. For the first 15 minutes they held out the Pickers and applied some of their own pressure when finally enjoying some good field position.
"I obviously asked for a better effort after half-time and we did do that, we stemmed the flow for awhile and basically looked pretty good down their half for awhile," Greenhalgh said.
"But they then got a couple of late ones and the score blew out."
The defeat leaves the Rams winless after five rounds, yet the coach was still able to see some positives from his young squad.
"I thought young Nick Tilburg went alright at number seven, that was the first time he'd played at seven for us and he stood up against a quality opposition," he said.
"The Betts boys worked hard for us in the centre as well and Feanrz [Brad Fearnley]."
The Rams play their next two games at home - hosting Wentworthville at Mudgee this coming Saturday before the August 30 meeting with North Sydney at Carrington Park.
Greenhalgh hopes that will give his side some extra motivation and may mean a larger of pool of players are available for selection.
