MATCH REPORT: TITANS BEAT BARNES TO MOVE LEVEL ON TOP

RAMS Titans came from behind to beat Barnes 2nd XV 28-15 at Old Bath Road on Saturday, the bonus-point triumph helping them move level at the top with Raging Bull Shield Division One leaders Richmond Vikings (2nd XV).

The hosts fell behind to fellow high-fliers Barnes, who they leapfrogged back into second with the hard-fought win, as the Londoners grabbed a converted try inside 90 seconds before then slotting a 25-metre penalty after Rams failed to retreat from another infringement.

Despite trailing 10-0, Titans were enjoying success at the set-piece with their scrum again noticeably powerful, and they got themselves on the scoreboard thanks to some genius from Ollie Cole midway through the opening period.

The scrum-half took a quick tap penalty just inside the Barnes’ 22, before a huge triple miss-pass – covering half the width of the pitch – found Finn Matthews to send Sam Rennell over in the left-hand corner.

Reading University student James Gilman lasered a fine conversion between the uprights, and his side came on strong in the final minutes of the half, a series of scrum penalties five metres from the visitors’ line leading to a yellow card and Josh Collis being stopped just short of the whitewash.

Barnes held out to preserve an interval lead, but Titans got themselves in front early in the second period, a huge rolling maul illegally brought down to leave the referee with no option but to award a penalty try.

Things got better for the hosts midway through the third quarter as a beautiful sidestep and finish from Gilman saw him score Rams’ third of the afternoon from just outside the 22, Cole and Semesa Coalala having made useful ground in the build-up.

The extras were again added by Gilman for 21-10, and they wrapped up the try bonus-point with another show of forwards’ power to all but put the game to bed with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining.

On this occasion it was another strong which set the platform for Collis to make a strong charge from the base, and while he was stopped just short, there was no halting Ross Crame to burrow under the posts.

Gilman’s kick gave Titans an 18-point lead, although Barnes gave themselves a glimmer of hope shortly after with a fine try created by a lively break from around the breakdown.

However, the hosts were able to close out the final stages for a seventh straight success ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Blackheath Heathens (2.30pm).