MATCH REPORT: TITANS COME SO CLOSE TO RAIDING VIKINGS

RAMS Titans came as close as they ever had to beating Richmond Vikings (2nd XV), but they eventually had to settle for two bonus-points in a 33-31 reverse at The RAG.

Titans had lost the previous eight games against their opponents since earning promotion to Division One of the HALBRO Raging Bull Shield, and they got off to a disastrous start in conceding two converted tries early on.

However, the visitors replied swiftly, first utilising their powerful rolling maul to get on the scoreboard, No. 8 Mike Hoyt – who was in charge of throwing duties into the line-out – the beneficiary as he dived over from a metre out.

Debutant George Makepeace-Cubbit added a fine conversion from the left, and a moment of magic from Hoyt then pulled Titans with two.

On this occasion the maul was stopped relatively quickly, but the dynamic back row peeled away before dummying the same player twice to run in from 20 metres out, also showing power to fend off a would-be tackler near the line.

However, Richmond moved further ahead at the end of a breathless first quarter, second row Tommaso Fricano blasting under the posts from close range for a score easily added to by Tom Smith.

Titans again hit back, though, and it was that man Hoyt who was again in the thick of things.

Despite Vikings repelling a line-out drive, the visitors retained the ball before Hoyt’s wonderful back-of-the-hand pass set-up captain Josh Collis to squeeze over on the right.

Titans then hit the front before the break with a magnificent and patient try – going through the phases from coast-to-coast and some 45 metres before Niall Kidd’s lovely inside ball sent Mikey Duda over for the try bonus-point.

Makepeace-Cubitt slotted the extras for a 24-21 half-time lead, but Vikings replied early in the second period with a classy try of their own, a cross-field kick caught on the full and touched down on the left.

The score of the day was still to come, however, and it was Titans who provided it as they went back in front via a stunning 60-metre finish from Aaqil Attah, the wing running a beautiful line through midfield after taking a stunning Tom Humberstone off-load.

With Makepeace-Cubitt on target the visitors led by five heading into the final quarter, only for Richmond to regain the lead when they collected a chip ahead before landing the kick.

And despite toiling to the end, Titans could not break their opponents down as the table-toppers shut the game down efficiently to make it six wins from six.

Titans are due to host Dorking A on Saturday.