ROUND one of the Western Plains Rugby Union competition saw the Coonamble Rams seeing stars in more ways than one with the boys coming away with their first win of the season.

18 members of the team travelled to Cobar for their first game and may have been considered a bit too keen, arriving more than an hour ahead of schedule.

The majority of the team was made up of returning players from previous seasons, though the game also featured the exciting match debuts of seven new Rams, some of whom had never played a proper game of union before.

With kick off at 2pm, the Rams had a strong start with new player Jacob Savage scoring the team's first season try which was then converted by Sam Grey.

The first half ended with Coonamble ahead of Cobar 10-5, a lead which was quickly built upon to become 16-5 in the early stages of the second half.

Players from the Cobar Camels and Coonamble Rams reach for the ball during one of the game's many line-outs

By this point, it was clear the Cobar team had a passionate fanbase and an intent to reclaim some ground, with a couple of the boys being sent off temporarily following some hard collisions and heated exchanges.

The Camels did succeed in scoring a converted try, taking the score to 16-12. The Rams dug deep however and didn't let score get any closer, giving them the victory.

Rams coach and team captain Brenton Williams spoke after the game, congratulating the Cobar team for their efforts and praising the Coonamble boys for not giving in.

"I'm very proud of the boys for coming out today and never giving in – there were times in that second half when we could have rolled up and we didn't so it was a very exciting game right through to the end," Mr Williams said.

"For our points, one point and player's player went to Jacob Savage, two points went to our number eight turned second-rower Ronnie Hertel and three points went to our five-eight Paddy Keady."