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Rams rally in vain
Nigel Sutcliffe2 Jan 2016 - 20:16
Denied bonus points in the mud
REDINGENSIANS RAMS 21 OLD ALBANIAN 31
Rams coach Mike Tewkesbury believes that men are close to the top Division 2 South teams in ability after giving leaders Old Albanians a run for their money.
The Herts side were shocked to find themselves 14-7 down after only nine minutes of this entertaining tussle played in dismal conditions.
Tewkesbury pointed out: “There is not a lot of difference between them and us. The margins are small."
"We certainly caused them problems, but the fact we didn’t play territory well and missed tackles were crucial.”
In a lively opening to the game, Rams went behind to a third minute Karl Garside try to which Matt Gallagher added the extras.
But they hit back in the sixth minute with a try from their own half. Joe Duffelen hacked the loose ball ahead twice before gathering to touch down.
However Duffelen, a key man in the Rams attack, pulled a hamstring in scoring. The drama continued when replacement George Drury immediately rounded off a backs move for Luke Flower to put over his second conversion.
Midway through the half Gallagher crossed to reduce the arrears for OAs before the game settled down into a war of attrition with the visitors’ backs, well marshalled by player-coach James Shanahan, always a danger.
Then the vulnerability of Rams either side of half-time struck again with back row man Harry Bate grabbing tries just before and after the break.
A further score after 50 minutes seemingly put the game out of Rams’ reach at 31-14 as Ollie Cooper-Millar finished off a 25-metre rolling maul.
But Rams showed their character and went on the attack. They gained a lineout close to the OAs line on the hour and No 8 Samir Kharbouch showed great strength and determination to force his way over.
That was the end of the scoring and Rams, who had the edge in the last quarter, squandered scoring positions from lineouts and failed to snatch the bonus points to ease their lowly position.
As in September, Rams had caused OAs difficulties in the scrummaging department and James Baker, yet again outstanding at tight head, was deservedly named their man-of-the-match.
Rams: Duffelen; Foxley, Bryant, Barnes, McDermottroe; Flower, Hill; Steadman, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, Morrison, Amor, Nightingale, Kharbouch. Reps: Crame, O Smith, J Smith, Vooght, Drury.
Rams coach Mike Tewkesbury believes that men are close to the top Division 2 South teams in ability after giving leaders Old Albanians a run for their money.
The Herts side were shocked to find themselves 14-7 down after only nine minutes of this entertaining tussle played in dismal conditions.
Tewkesbury pointed out: “There is not a lot of difference between them and us. The margins are small."
"We certainly caused them problems, but the fact we didn’t play territory well and missed tackles were crucial.”
In a lively opening to the game, Rams went behind to a third minute Karl Garside try to which Matt Gallagher added the extras.
But they hit back in the sixth minute with a try from their own half. Joe Duffelen hacked the loose ball ahead twice before gathering to touch down.
However Duffelen, a key man in the Rams attack, pulled a hamstring in scoring. The drama continued when replacement George Drury immediately rounded off a backs move for Luke Flower to put over his second conversion.
Midway through the half Gallagher crossed to reduce the arrears for OAs before the game settled down into a war of attrition with the visitors’ backs, well marshalled by player-coach James Shanahan, always a danger.
Then the vulnerability of Rams either side of half-time struck again with back row man Harry Bate grabbing tries just before and after the break.
A further score after 50 minutes seemingly put the game out of Rams’ reach at 31-14 as Ollie Cooper-Millar finished off a 25-metre rolling maul.
But Rams showed their character and went on the attack. They gained a lineout close to the OAs line on the hour and No 8 Samir Kharbouch showed great strength and determination to force his way over.
That was the end of the scoring and Rams, who had the edge in the last quarter, squandered scoring positions from lineouts and failed to snatch the bonus points to ease their lowly position.
As in September, Rams had caused OAs difficulties in the scrummaging department and James Baker, yet again outstanding at tight head, was deservedly named their man-of-the-match.
Rams: Duffelen; Foxley, Bryant, Barnes, McDermottroe; Flower, Hill; Steadman, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, Morrison, Amor, Nightingale, Kharbouch. Reps: Crame, O Smith, J Smith, Vooght, Drury.
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