On paper, it looks easy.
But the 38-18 win by East Campbelltown Eagles over bottom dwellers Moorebank Rams was anything but easy.
Indeed it needed a half time rev up from coach Richard Barnes to shake the premiers out of their complacency.
The Rams had managed just one win in the previous 16 rounds – and that was just a week earlier.
But nobody expected them to trouble the 2016 Sydney Shield premiers, who were trying to hang on to the vital fourth spot on the ladder.
But that’s exactly what the Rams did at Hammondville Oval on the weekend.
And they didn’t waste any time doing it, either, scoring in the opening minute to shock the visitors.
When Eagles star Ben Baker scored to reduce the deficit to two points at 6-4, it would have been easy to think that it was all over for the Rams.
But a determined Moorebank scored two quick tries to race away to an imposing 18-4 lead.
The Eagles reduced it to 18-8 after a try to Theo Leato just before half time.
None of the Eagles players would have been looking forward to the pep talk from the coach – and they were right.
Barnes didn’t hold back on what he thought of his team’s first half performance, highlighting their poor attitude.
When Eagles posted the first points of the second half it was obvious the boys had got the coach’s message loud and clear.
Tries to Craig Moustakas and Ben Baker had the Eagles trailing 18-16 – Sean Connor had a 0-4 conversion rate at that stage.
But a third second half try, this time to Adam Soultan, and Connor finally successful with the conversion, gave the Eagles the lead for the first time at 22-18.
From that point on the writing was on the wall for the home side as the Eagles put the foot down.
Ben Baker scored a third four pointer, followed by two tries to Sean Connor and Craig Moustakas in the last 10 minutes of play.
Coach Richard Barnes said after his side wrapped up the match 38-18: “I was happy with the way the team responded; the Sydney Shield is a very tough competition over rounds.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Any team from first to last can win on their day.[/social_quote]
“I’ll just forget the first half and look at the positives in the second half, and focus on the team’s attitude as we head towards semi finals,’’ Barnes said.
The Eagles travel to Lionel Watts Reserve this coming Sunday to take on Belrose at 2.30pm
