The Cougars fought back valiantly but ultimately paid the price for a sluggish first half at Cougar Park yesterday.

Trailing 16-2 at the break after a Ryan Sheridan sucker punch on the stroke of half-time, the Cougars clawed their way back to within two points and looked the more likely winner before stand-off Adam Mitchell's lame-duck pass was intercepted by Rams centre Chris Hall for the match-winning try.

"I am really disappointed," said coach Gary Moorby.

"Two intercept tries and a one-on-one steal cost us the game. In the second half we had them on the ropes. They were like a heavyweight boxer, wobbling and waiting for the knockout punch to come. Instead, we gifted them an interception that took the heart out of us."

Mitchell opened the scoring with a fifth-minute penalty but the Cougars seldom threatened again in the opening half and were fortunate not to be reduced to 12 men when prop Phil Stephenson flattened Ged Corcoran with a brutal high tackle in the 15th minute.

By then the Rams were in front courtesy of a simple try to former Bulls centre Kevin Crouthers, and Stephenson's dismissal would have spelled curtains for the Cougars.

Instead, he remained on the field to play a leading hand, but will likely face further action as referee Colin Morris placed the incident on report.

An 18th-minute Darren Rogers intercept of Daniel Harvey's pass put the Rams further ahead but the Cougars almost hit right back with an intercept try of their own when wing Sam Gardner picked off Sheridan's pass only to be cut down inside the Rams' 20.

Sheridan atoned for his error, though, robbing Matt Steel one-on-one to cross for a crucial six-pointer on the stroke of half- time. Stephenson's neat offload sent Matt Bramald over to raise Cougar hopes shortly after the restart and centre Matt Foster then claimed yet another intercept to streak 70 metres and pull the Cougars within two.

For three consecutive sets the Cougars pounded the Rams line but they couldn't break through, and eventually it was Hall's intercept ten minutes from time that settled it.

Rogers then claimed Maloney's well-weighted kick to notch his second and condemn the Cougars to a harsh defeat. "I can't knock the effort - it was great - but they got the result, which was disappointing," said Moorby.

"Their budget is a lot bigger than ours and there wasn't that much between the teams.

"We showed a lot of character and a lot of determination to come back and we were definitely in with a chance but we didn't help ourselves, which was disappointing. You have to take your chances."

STEVE DEANE