RAMS on a high after beating the World

The World team, comprised of players from a variety of cultural backgrounds and countries, threw everything at the RAMS but the team withstood the pressure to run out 20.9.129 to 3.7.25 winners.

The World and South Pacific sides have been one of the talking points of the Championships with long-lost cousins reunited after a ten year hiatus after fleeing war-torn Sudan and the emergence of two AFL stars with family ties to Team GWS recruit Israel Folau.

After losing their opening round match of the Championships, the RAMS have responded professionally by defeating the highly skilful Northern Territory team and then backing it up with their victory over the Michel O’Loughlin co-coached World XVIII.

For the RAMS players, it was truly a memorable moment in their footballing lives to have the opportunity to play against a side which has attracted talented footballers from all corners of the world.

Cronulla’s Craig Moller capped off a superb carnival for the RAMS by receiving the most valuable player award for his consistent performance over the three matches.

With three games in less than a week the team was certainly up to the challenge today and showed no signs of fatigue throughout the course of the match.

The game started for the RAMS with the same intensity as they finished their last round match with the team playing fluent, free flowing attacking football to head into the first break with a healthy lead.

Michael O’Loughlin asked his players at quarter-time to talk more on the field and his players responded in the best possible way in the second term by winning the centre clearance and setting up a goal-scoring opportunity.

Despite a commanding lead, the RAMS were asked to dig deep and with Lonnie Hampton (four goals) making his presence felt up forward the side was on track to set up a commanding victory.

The RAMS continued to work hard deep into the fourth quarter and Nick Cregan’s spectacular mark in the goal-square ensured the side finished their Championships on a high note by defeating the World XVIII by 104 points.

The RAMS will take a lot out of their Championships campaign as the team rebounded from their opening round defeat and the loss of key players to injury to go on to win their next two games by playing impressive team-orientated football.