Rams edged ever nearer to automatic promotion and the National Div. 3 South West title with a 10 try thrashing of hosts Oxford Harlequins at North Hinksey last Saturday.
It was Rams 20th win of the season and, with three games left to play, the try bonus point stretched their lead at the top to 10 points over Devonians Exmouth, 18-33, winners at Old Redcliffians.
Full back Joe Duffelen and wing Olly Poole both crossed twice while prop James Baker, wing Olly Foxley, prop Jack Steadman, scrum half Luke Flower, flanker Azza Hopkins and replacement scrum half Will Clark all weighed in with one apiece, six of which were converted by scrum half James Brooks who also landed a penalty.
It was the third time this season that Rams had topped 60 points and ensured them their eighth successive win over Quins since last losing to then back in April 2010.
Happy skipper Andy Amor and member of the hard-working back-row said afterwards: “I was delighted with the teams discipline today. There was a clear focus to try and restrict the penalty count and we did that and with 43 points in the first half it was the best start we could have hoped for.
“They were very niggly and tried to disrupt us but our discipline was good, we shared the tries around, including two from the front-row today, and it was great to have another win.
“They came back at us a bit in the second half but we scored 60 plus points today and job done for us and we move on to next week.”
Rams made the perfect start on the heavy pitch and were 14-0 in front after just six minutes! Their first try coming after a fine penalty kick to touch from scrum half Brooks, well won by lock Tom Bryson and driven on by his fellow second-row James Hughes and hooker Ben Henderson until stopped. Rams quickly recycled for Flower to open up a gap and send wing Poole flying in under the posts.
Brooks converted easily and was at it again two minutes later as Rams roared back into the home half through skipper Amor's break and great support play from No.8 Jamie Guttridge, Hopkins, Flower and centre Dan Barnes saw full back Duffelen touching down the first of his brace.
A Brooks penalty, midway through the half, put them 0-17 ahead while with Quins also having prop Ollie Barlow yellow carded Rams immediately snatched their third try when prop James Baker steamed over in the right-hand corner but too acute, this time, for Brooks to embellish.
While Quins finally enjoyed a period of pressure in the visitors half it was Rams who broke out once more and for Amor to give the final pass to wing Olly Poole to comfortably race in under the posts and hand Brooks another simple conversion.
And, within three minutes, they had stretched their lead to 0-36 after Amor had made space for Olly Foxley to weave inside the home defence and find the advancing Duffellen and to race in under the posts, Brooks converting.
Rams also had the final say of the half as Flower and Duffelen combined to send Foxley in under the posts for his second and, with Brooks conversion, Rams were cruising 0-43 ahead as referee Chris Thomas blew for half-time.
There was a shock awaiting Rams at the start of the second half as, two minutes into it, they gave away a loose ball and Quins took full advantage to open up their visitors and for centre Jack Robinson to score in the right-hand corner but too much for fly half Jessie Williams to convert.
Almost immediately, however, they lost lock Lloyd Willcocks to a yellow card and from the restart went over the top at a ruck close to their own line. Rams opted for the scrum and, after a great drive, Brooks and Henderson sent prop Jack Steadman steaming over for his first try in a Rams shirt only for Brooks to miss with the simple conversion.
A Steadman interception also helped lay on Rams eighth try and well finished off by Flower but which went unconverted, while Rams also had to play with 14 men for a while when Massey picked up a yellow card and which slowed Rams down for the duration that he was off the pitch.
They did, however, grab two late tries when back to 15 men as first from a quickly taken tapped penalty Hopkins crashed over in the corner only for Brooks conversion to bounce off the upright to safety.
Then, with the last play of the match, replacement lock Owen Root and Hopkins combined to send replacement scrum half Will Clark in under the posts and, this time, Brooks added the two points.
A delighted prop Steadman summed up the packs performance afterwards saying: “It was a difficult first 20 minutes or so and hard work but we kept going forward and were disappointed to let them score. There was few bits and pieces off the ball but you've just got to rise above it and keep to your own standards and play your own game. It was my first try for the club so it was good to finally get over the whitewash!”
Rams now face a trip to Weston-super-Mare this coming Saturday (28th) where a win will hugely bolster their title chances before returning home to take on second place Exmouth (Apl.4), and Barnstaple away on April 18th to end their season.

Rams: Duffelen; Poole, Barnes, Massey, Foxley; Flower, Brooks; Steadman, Henderson, Baker; Hughes, Bryson; Amor (c), Hopkins, Guttridge. Reps: Weller, Root, Clark.

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