MATCH REPORT: TERRIFIC TITANS CONTINUE PERFECT START

RAMS Titans sealed a third straight bonus-point HALBRO Raging Bull Shield Division One win with an entertaining 31-25 home success against Bishop’s Stortford Blues.

Having had a Charlie Robson effort disallowed for a forward pass early on, Titans fell behind early on as the visitors charged down a kick inside their opponents’ 22 before swiftly flinging the ball down the left for Alex Gilham to open the scoring.

However, the home side replied quickly, Robson showing some fabulous footwork to beat a number of would-be defenders from close range, Rowan Grundy with a good conversion from out on the left for 7-5.

Blues nudged themselves back in front with a straight-forward Dan Cole penalty from just inside the 22, and the fly-half was on target again from slightly further out to give his side a four-point advantage.

Yet it was Titans who came on strong as the half came to a close, spending much of the final five minutes near the try-line before Calum Scott darted over from the back of a maul after Blues had been reduced to 14 men via a sin-binning.

Grundy was unable to land a touchline conversion with the last play of the opening 40 minutes, but his side led 12-11.

The hosts came out firing at the start of the period and moved further in front when the maul again set-up field position, replacement prop Elio Mandozzi powering over from close range.

The bonus-point arrived in brilliant fashion, Titans this time showing their continuity game with brilliant off-loads out of the tackle from Michael Etete and Grundy before Robson’s pass was taken by Scott Harman – the wing then showing magnificent footwork to dart his way across the whitewash.

Grundy made no mistake from just to the right of the posts, but Blues stayed in the game as they finally breached their opponents’ resolute defence with a well-worked converted score from Finn Quinn.

Titans regained control following some more terrific inter-play, Sam Rennell doing magnificently to take a low pass before holding off two would-be defenders to score on the left.

Given a reprieve after Stortford vocally interfered with his first attempt, Grundy landed a spectacular conversion for 31-18.

And despite the away side gaining a somewhat fortunate seven-pointer with the final play – a semi charge-down of Cole’s attempted chip hoovered up for his teammate to dive over – it was too little, too late.

Titans host Wimbledon 2nd XV this Saturday.