Old Albanian 29 Redingensians 19.
Skipper Dan Barnes is convinced Rams can survive in National 2 South after being denied a bonus point deep in injury time away to Old Albanian.
The 20-year-old ex-Forest School lad, thrust into the captaincy after a shoulder injury to Andy Amor, said: “I’m 100 per cent certain we are at the right level after this display.”
“It’s just a case of us adjusting to the physicality and pace in Division 2 after being promoted. This was an improvement on the performance against Redruth last week.”
The young Rams side – average age 22 – had fought back into bonus point range three times but to no avail against a side which had been relegated from Division 1 at the end of last season.
It was a gritty display as OA’s scrummage was put under intense pressure by the Rams eight in which tight-head James Baker yet again excelled.
However the home side had a speedy back division which Rams found difficult to contain despite some heroic defence.
Rather against the run of play, two tries from OA winger Leo Fielding tries had given his side a 14-0 lead.
Then a “Keystone Cops” effort in injury time put Rams back in the game when two charged down kicks gave No 8 Jamie Guttridge the chance to touch down for Guy Swadling to convert.
Matt Gallagher extended the Herts club’s lead after 48 minutes but their Billy Johnson was yellow carded and back came Rams with a Guttridge pushover try.
In the closing ten minutes. Josh Taylor crossed to make it 24-12 before Samir Kharbouch crossed from a close-range line-out. Swadling added the extras to give the Sonning men hope.
But there was no happy ending when Rams conceded the late, late May try when their effort and determination deserved some reward.
A bright spot was the debut of teenage lock Will Morrison, yet another Forest School product, who came on as replacement.

Rams: Swadling; Poole, Bryant, Barnes, McDermottroe; Stapleton, Brown; Weller, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, Kerschbaumer, Hopkins, Nightingale, Guttridge. Reps (used): Crame, Steadman, Morrison, Kharbouch, Norville.