Marist Brothers Rams remain the undefeated favourites after their 14 – 10 win today over archrivals, Ballina Seagulls.

Oliver Regan and Luke Simpson combined to put Ballina on the board with two early tries and one conversion.

In the 35th minute Brett Kelly chipped a ripper over the Ballina defence just over the half way line to race up the field with teammate Hezekiah McKenzie who caught the ball to score under the Seagull’s posts.

Dane Pratt converted yet Ballina went to half time in the lead 10 – 6.

Rams Coach Mark Sivewright said the Rams knew what they had to improve from a sluggish first half.

“Energy is one thing we had to improve on out of the first half,” he said.

Brothers went on offensive to score only twice in the second half, both out wide to Evan Hawkins and Aden Haywood.

Although the match wasn’t high scoring, the play was electric. 

Neither team could break defences, no matter what strategy they tried.

Every run, every play, every kick, every tackle - spoiled, thwarted or snuffed out.

Seagulls Coach Luke Douglas said the game was a tough challenge.

“I thought we played well in that first half … we got a little chip ‘n chase try and then it was a tough battle in the second half.

“Rams really stuck it to us and kept coming,”

Mr Douglas added that today was a bit of a wake-up call as the Rams have ‘been on’ all season as well as last season too.

“They’ve defended our shape really well today, so they’ve worked on what we do well and seemed to handle that pretty well.

“We’ll keep practising, you saw in that first half what we can do … it’s just a matter of keeping at it.

“We went away from what was working for us a bit so today’s about going home, licking our wounds and getting back to the training paddock.”

Coach for the Rams, Mark Sivewright said he was pretty happy with the team today.

“We went out there and played with good shape, good energy, and our defence in that second half was the best thing out of the day.

“We’ve been working hard on our defence and we know that defence wins premierships.

He added that Marist Brothers spend around eighty per cent of their training and coaching on defence.

“It was good tonight, even though we let in ten early points, and then they didn’t score again.”

With five straight wins under their belt Mr Sivewright said it’s a good thing the Rams know they can beat Ballina. 



“They’ve had the wood over us for the last ten years and last year we got close with a 10 all draw and the Grand Final was in the balance there for a bit but they’re a quality team and this is not the last we’ve seen from them. 

“They’re the benchmark.”

RESERVES

Marist Brothers thumped the Seagulls 30 - 4 .

Tries for the Rams went to Luke Davis, Ryan Lee, Nathan Stewart, Brody Jones, Lennon Bartlett (2) and conversions to Mitchell Slaven (1), and Connor Storck (2).

Ballina: Lachlan Johnson.

Four players were sin-binned during the match: Luke McDonald from Ballina and Ryan Lee, Connor Storck, and Marcus Hannaway from Lismore.

U18'S

Ballina defeated Marist Brothers Rams 14 - 12.

Very close match with the Ballina side more men up yet the young Rams made a solid game of it nonetheless.

Tries to Ballina: Damon Coldwell, Kye Cooper, and Khyan Weir. Conversions: Malaki Ferguson.

Tries to Lismore: Julian Thompson and Jackson Fraser. Conversions: Lennox Rowe (2).

Round 5 Marist Brothers take on Tweed on their home soil at Les Burger Field.