Having lost their home game against Rams earlier in the season, Old Elthamians looked to make amends during their visit to Reading. Two hard-fought halves hailed the Londoners victorious with a 7-20 score line but saw standout performances on both sides of the pitch.

An aggressive outset for the visitors saw the two packs size eachother up. Alex Brown pulled the first punch for Old Elthamians at the 5-minute mark, scoring in the left-hand corner after a won scrum on Rams’ 5-metre line.

Old Elthamians continued to direct offensive opportunities in Rams’ direction but were held back by a sterling defence. With Rams almost exclusively on the defensive, they suffered a further concession to a penalty kick performed by Tom White .

Rams picked up more offensive prowess towards the end of the first half but failed to carry these opportunities through to the scoreboard. Olie Claxton instead closed the first forty minutes with a try for Old Elthamians, playing advantage after a scrum in front of Rams’ posts. This was converted by Tom White.

The home side were quick to advance after the reset, pushing OEs back into their own 22. Skipper Robbie Stapley put Rams’ first points on the board, driving a 5-metre lineout to score in the left corner. Jordan Souter picked up the extras in his kicking debut for the Reading team.

Both teams made further aggressive moves, with Ollie Foxley, Ben Henderson and Conor Corrigan all making attempts at the Old Elthamians try line for Rams. Tom Vooght, James Baker and Steven Bryant ensured turnovers at tricky moments for the home team.

George Messum made the only exception to the evenly matched second half play, finishing a driving maul for the final try of the game. A yellow card for OE’s Adam Preconin was the only dividend for Rams’ continued efforts to level the score line.

A final scoreboard of 7-20 marked the win for Old Elthamians. They remain in 3rd position on the National League 2 South table while Rams keep their place at 7th. For their next match (Saturday 25th March) Redingensians Rams will be away at Canterbury, fighting to keep them in 8th place with only a 4 point lead over the Kentish side.

Report by Matt McCrory
Photo by Tim Pitfield

Redingensians Rams:
15 - Foxley
14 - Rossiter
13 - Bryant
12 - Souter
11 - Corrigan
10 - Guttridge
9 - Illingworth
1 - Steadman
2 - Henderson
3 - Baker
4 - Hoy
5 - Taylor
6 - Crame
7 - Vooght
8 - Stapley (c)

16 - Drew
17 - McDonnell-Roberts
18 - Allen
19 - Nightingale
20 - Lloyd

Old Elthamians:
15 - Surman
14 - Lespierre
13 - Golledge
12 - Wilkins
11 - A. Brown
10 - White
9 - Claxton
1 - North
2 - Rudland-Thomas
3 - Liffchak
4 - Preocanin
5 - Kench
6 - Messum
7 - Barton (c)
8 - Ledger

16 - L. Brown
17 - Morris
18 - Sullivan
19 - Waltier
20 - Chesters

Rams:
Tries: Stapley 47
Conversions: Souter 48

Old Elthamians:
Tries: Brown 5; Claxton 35; Messum 69
Conversions: White 36
Penalties: White 19