RUGBY LEAGUE: It was the southwest showdown as the Roma and District Rugby League side took on the Western Ringers in a bid to make their way into the Southwest Country team at the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, the Roma and District side, filled with players from Roma, Wallumbilla, Mitchell and Chinchilla, matched up against the Ringers who had players from Charleville, Cunnamulla, Quilpie and Morven.

The southwest clash finished 38-24 in Roma's favour.

Roma coach Wayne Collie said both teams came out to play, which provided great viewing.

"The game went really well considering we jumped together and headed straight onto the park

with short notice,” Collie said.

"I was pleased with the Western Ringers as well, they brought in a strong squad this year and they were also leading 16-12 there at one stage.”

Collie said a lot of the Roma boys played together last year, making it easy for the team to gel.

"We had a fresh face from Chinchilla, young Hayden Bender who had a pretty strong game at hooker,” Collie said.

"Ollie Peak had a great game at fullback as well as Tommy Dawson from the Ringers at second row.

"It was pretty hard to stick to a game plan when we had just thrown our team together, so we just stuck to the basics and made sure we completed our set of sixes and had a good kick and chase.”

Collie is also charged with the duties of coaching the Southwest Country team and said 25 players had been selected but the 19-man squad would be announced on Monday morning.

"Both sides had plenty of talent for us to choose from, eight players from the Western Ringers really impressed me with their style of play and fitness, which was great because last year they only had

two representatives,” Collie said.

Southwest Country will play in the annual Central Division 47th Battalion carnival in Toowoomba on Saturday and Sunday, May 5-6, where the boys from the bush will take on teams from the Sunshine Coast, Gladstone, Central Highlands, Toowoomba and more.

"I'm pretty confident with the side that we will be going away with to the comp, it'll be very competitive,” Collie said.

"It's a big ask for the boys from the bush because they only have one or two games under their belt before playing in that comp as opposed to Toowoomba and the Sunny Coast boys who are already in their sixth round of footy.

"I'm excited for it regardless.”