The highly-fancied Walcha Rams' first grade side signalled a warning to the rest of the New England Rugby Union competition with a complete shut out of the Barbarians. Walcha didn't miss a beat in their introduction to New England, cleaning up in all four grades. They capped it off with a 43-nil triumph in the top grade with outside centre Ed Cordingley crossing for a hat-trick. RELATED: It didn't take long for the Rams to post the first points with Thor Crombie taking his side 5-nil up. Walcha went 12-nil up 25 minutes into the match with Charlie Keen crossing in the corner. Dom Bower made no mistake with the conversion. Bower then cleaned up a kick inside the Rams' own half and raced away to score before Cordingley claimed the first of his three tries on the stroke of half-time to give the visitors a 24-nil advantage at the break. His second try came eight minutes into the second stanza but it took another 25 minutes before any more points were posted. It was another one of Walcha's outside backs in Pat Keen who raced over in the corner seven minutes out from the full-time siren to push their lead out to 36-nil. Cordingley cruised over to bring up his hat-trick with a converted try right on full-time. Coach Hyde Thomson was rapt with keeping the Baa Baas scoreless. "Terrific. I think defence is one of our stronger points," he said. "I think Barbarians had terrific defence as well. "It was a pretty solid hit out for our first game, there will be some sore boys tomorrow [Sunday]." Saturday's soggy conditions saw plenty of mistakes by all grades. READ ALSO: Thomson put the lack of control down to "first game jitters" but was happy with the improvement as the game progressed. "It was obviously very greasy because all the other grades struggled as well," he said. "We worked our way into it, we got more controlled as the game wore on. "Just ability to stick to our own game and pull it back to what we play best was what I like to see." Despite the seven-try effort, Thomson would still like to see less turnovers in their game. "We get a little bit impatient sometimes," he said. "We just need to play for the opportunities rather than trying to create them out of thin air. "A million penalties - both sides, but we gave a lot more away." Thomson also was complimentary of the Barbarians side. "I thought Baa Baas were a better side than that [scoreline], they played better anyway," he said. "They were very strong in defence, tenacious." The Rams will head to Coffs Harbour next Saturday to face the Harbour Knights. Scores: New England Rugby 1st Grade Round 1 Baa Baas 1st Grade 0 Def By Walcha 1st Grade 43 (Tries: H. Leslie, C. Keen, D. Bower, E. Cordingley (3), P. Keen Conversions: D. Bower (4)) Tamworth 1st Grade 26 (Tries: M. Tauvali, I. Navatu, J. York (2) Conversions: L. Tuicakau (3)) Def Albies 1st Grade 10 (Tries: H. Size Conversions: J. Pattinson Penalty Goals: J. Pattinson) Glen Innes 1st Grade 5 (Tries: F. Aho) Def By Harbour Knights 1sts 38 (Tries: P. Uikelotu, A. Rigney, Z. Cross, O. Edwards, T. Stevenson (2) Conversions: Z. Cross (3), O. Edwards) Robb 1st Grade 21 (Tries: T. Jackson (3) Conversions: D. Walsh (2), Z. Salmon) Def By Armidale Blues 1st Grade 30 (Tries: M. Miles, E. Pitt, M. Williams (2) Conversions: E. Pitt (2) Penalty Goals: E. Pitt (2)) New England Rugby 2nd Grade Round 1 Tamworth 2nd Grade 22 (Tries: C. Kensey, C. Robinson, J. Marshman Conversions: L. Allan, H. Heeney Penalty Goals: L. Allan) Def Albies 2nd Grade 14 (Tries: Team (1), H. Hickson Conversions: J. Bloomer (2)) Baa Baas 2nd Grade 12 (Tries: Team (2) Conversions: Team (1)) Def By Walcha 2nd Grade 17 (Tries: B. Porter, D. Blanch, S. Colwell Conversions: L. Fletcher) Glen Innes 2nd Grade 0 Def By Harbour Knights 2nds 50 (Tries: A. O'donnell (2), C. Hoy, J. Sewell, M. Shaw (3), J. De dassel Conversions: M. Shaw (3), L. Pappalardo (2)) Robb 2nd Grade 10 (Tries: T. Broinowski, O. Fricke) Def By Armidale Blues 2nd Grade 26 (Tries: T. Heremaia, L. Meatheringham, A. Frend, J. Richardson-fowell Conversions: F. Thomas (3)) New England Rugby 3rd Grade Round 1 Tamworth 3rd Grade 45 (Tries: L. Oates, M. Pearce, N. Ratawake, B. Humphries (2), H. Heeney, J. Murphy Conversions: H. Heeney (5)) Def Albies 3rd Grade 19 (Tries: E. Mcdonnell (2), M. Langfield Conversions: M. Peterson (2)) Baa Baas 3rd Grade 7 (Tries: Team (1) Conversions: Team (1)) Def By Walcha 3rd Grade 24 (Tries: J. Okeefe, C. Coddington (2), N. Rogers Conversions: N. Rogers, R. Young) New England Rugby Women's 7's Round 1 Tamworth Women's 7's 15 (Tries: G. Moore (2), L. Clark) Def Albies Women's 7's 5 (Tries: I. Mcmaster) Tamworth Women's 7's 38 (Tries: G. Moore (2), S. Milgate, K. Hinton, E. Bowen, S. Stewart Conversions: G. Moore (2), K. Hinton, S. Stewart) Def Albies Women's 7's 0 Barbets Women's 7's 14 (Tries: T. Brazier (2) Conversions: S. Gordon-briggs, T. Brazier) Def By Tamworth Pirates Women's 7's 26 (Tries: C. Nielsen (2), L. De jong , A. Murray Conversions: E. Maslen (3)) Barbets Women's 7's 5 (Tries: Team (1)) Def By Tamworth Pirates Women's 7's 22 (Tries: C. Nielsen (2), J. Cooper, S. Partridge Conversions: E. Maslen)