Locked at 14-14 with five minutes remaining at Sid Kallas Oval, Somers evaded some tiring Monaro left-edge defence to score the winning try, a result which books their spot in round two against Riverina at West Wyalong next Saturday.

Western coach Mick Armstong said his side was at its best during the early stages of each 25 minute half.

“We were a bit patchy in stages but I thought our first 15 minutes of the match was outstanding the last 10 minutes of the half we kind of let them back in and same in the second half, our first 15 minutes was really good but a few lapses in concentration allowed them back in again,” he said.

Despite the Rams never trailing the match, it was a pulsating 50-minute contest as Monaro never gave up hope of clinching a lead.

Western constantly threatened, but the clash went into the half-time break locked at 6-6. Claire Woolmington and Bec Ford both scored early in the second half to give the Rams a 14-6 lead, but Monaro hit back, levelling again.

A knock on from the last restart, ala Ben Hunt in the 2015 NRL grand final, gifted the Rams an opportunity, Somers taking advantage.