RAMS ON TOP AFTER ROMA REF ANSWERS SOS

CUNNAMULLA captain Cameron Mitchell is breathing a sigh of relief after his side was forced to dig deep to repel a much-improved Thargomindah Bulls in the latest round of Western Rugby League.

The Rams prevailed 24-16 but only pulled away in the second stanza, thanks to Thargo having two players sent to the sin-bin.

Mitchell says it was a good test for Cunnamulla, playing in front of their hometown fans at John Kerr Park, especially in tricky conditions with a storm impacting on the town, then sunny skies before more rain.

“It could have gone either way mate with those sin bins but then again, you can’t be swearing and carrying on like that,” says Mitchell, whose post-match interview can be heard in Costo’s drive show after 3pm today.

Thargo’s stand-out performer was playmaker and former Melbourne Storm under-20s player Mack Mason, who scored Thargo’s first try in 24 years, as seen on the 4RR-FM Facebook page, just minutes after he dotted down at the northern end.

Mason, who grew up around Mitchell, also spoke to us post-match and that interview can also be heard after 3pm today.

In the other week two matches at Cunnamulla, the Rams defeated the Charleville Comets 16-8 before the Comets accounted for the Bulls 22-nil.

It’s worth noting that at one stage last Friday night, it looked like no footy would be played over the weekend with a shortage of match officials leading to an announcement that all games would be postponed.

However, another announcement followed two hours later, as reported LIVE on-air on 4RR-FM, with Roma referee Taine Duff answering an SOS from a desperate Western Rugby League.

The 11th hour recovery operation was organised by WRL secretary Tracey Thorne, prompting a flood of goodwill messages from far and wide from players, officials and other key stakeholders.

WRL chairman Glen Thomas, who appeared on Costo’s drive show last Friday, says Thorne deserved all the credit. “She is an unsung hero. Nothing would have happened without her,” he says.

A meeting tonight is expected to determine when and where the next matches will be played.