A Josh Smith hat-trick plus a brace for centre Andy Amor along with one from Smith's fellow wingman Sean McDermotroe eased Rams to a handsome National League 3 South West bonus point win over the `All Whites' at the Old Bath Road ground on Saturday.

With scrum half James Brooks adding three first half conversions plus two penalties Rams totally dominated their guests in the opening half to rattle up a 37-3 interval lead before a spirited second-half fightback from their visitors prevented an all-out rout.

The win moved Rams up to third in the table on points difference above Old Redcliffians, beaten at Worcester Wanderers, while leaders Lydney and second placed Bracknell both won their respective games.

A delighted Smith joked afterwards; “I'm trying to catch Amor in the try tally! But we stuck at it and showed a good defence. We tried not to let a try in but, unfortunately, one did get by us but we'll take that. We've got the best defence in the league which is good and we got a bonus point as well today.”

Rams with a new look back row in Tom Bryson at No. 8 alongside flankers Ollie Poole and Tom Vooght got off to a flying start with a try after just two minutes. Skipper Owen Root, McDermotroe, Bryant and fly half Nigel Gumbleton all lending a hand before Amor finally put Smith over wide out.

Brooks couldn't convert but he made no mistake with a second attempt just nine minutes later after prop James Bakers good work was built on by Bryant to send Amor in near the corner.

Fly half Lewis Ryan did respond for the visitors soon after with a penalty for not releasing in a ruck only for Rams to score again from the restart. This time Gumbleton, Amor and hooker Rory Paxton all had a hand in proceedings before sending a battling Smith over for his second.
A fine Brooks conversion made it 19-3 before stretching the lead out to 22-3 with a great 40 metre penalty some nine minutes later.

And the pressure continued to mount on the shell-shocked `All Whites' with Rams camped in their 22 and increasing their lead on 36 minute as McDermotroe put Amor over for an unconverted try to insure the bonus point before adding try number five himself under the posts for Brooks to easily convert. The scrum half completing the first half scoring well into time added on when his second penalty ended the half with Rams leading 37-3.

And, all credit to the visitors, they hit back after the break and for the opening 10 minutes and virtually all of the second half played the game in Rams half of the pitch.

Fortunately Rams tackling was of the highest order for the majority of the half and the visitors just couldn't break down the home defence until the 78th minute when replacement John Downey snatched their only try and Lewis converted.

But it was Rams who were to have the final say as the time added on slipped away and they finally spent some time in the visitors 22 and, with the All Whites penalised for not releasing, a sharp piece of play saw Smith scampering over to complete his hat-trick but which went unconverted.

A jubilant Rams skipper Owen Root said afterwards: “Fantastic! First half was high intensity, we moved them around and some of the off-loading in the conditions was fantastic but we were very disappointed with that last score of theirs. But it's a real step-up and shows we are learning to play the conditions a lot better.

“The tackling was fantastic we spoke a lot before about the way they like to play and what we could do to neutralise that and a key part of that was our first up tackling and our first up defence was also key today.”

The skipper was equally as pleased with how well the squad has coped with a surfeit of recent injuries particularly in the back-row.
“Yes we have been unlucky with the amount of injuries we've incurred but it's testament to what's going on behind the scenes that we've got individuals who continue to step up and step up and step up and do a fantastic job for us. Ollie Poole and Tom Vooght two boys who have come through the club were fantastic in the back row today and they were key to our victory and all credit to them.”
And there was a special word of praise for new prop Matt Weller who had sound debut in the Rams front row.

Root said: “Matt's got a great pedigree and since coming to the club has been a real hard worker and has kept his head down, has a fantastic work rate and he's lovely to scrummage behind and a great new addition to the side.”

Next Saturday Rams travel to fourth placed side Old Redcliffians.

Rams: Bryans; Smith, Bryant, Amor, McDermotroe; Gumbleton, Brooks; Weller, Paxton, Baker; Root (c), O'Connell; Pool, Vooght, Bryson. Reps – (all used) Owen, Jeffreys, Chandler.

Report By Steve Williams