A try in either half from wing Olly Poole plus touchdowns for prop James Baker and scrum half Jack Hill ensured a bonus point win over a resilient and resolute Centralians side at the Old Bath Road ground last Saturday.
In both games between the two sides this season Cents have made the National 3 South West league leaders work hard for their wins and it was a much relived Rams side when referee Zerron Bell finally called time.
By then Rams were down to 13 men following two late yellow cards to lock Tom Bryson and centre Dave Massey having also lost lock James Hughes for 10 minutes in the bin at the end of the first half.
And it was much relieved Rams skipper Andy Amor who could finally raise a smile at the end of the 80 minutes.
He admitted: “They came up and gave us a real tough test today and it was only in the final 15 minutes that we were able to get those two tries to secure the bonus point win. They are seventh in the league and will still cause some upsets for the rest of the season.
“But I was pleased with the character of my side all the way through and to come away with five points is job done and we can focus on next week now.”
From the kick-off Rams, playing towards Sonning Golf Club, knew that they were in for another tough afternoon at the hands of the Gloucestershire side who made a lively start and won a kickable penalty inside the opening two minutes only for fly half Liam Hemming to scuff his shot and miss the target.
A scenario repeated soon after by Rams when returning fly half Luke Flower sent his 32 metre penalty attempt left of the uprights.
But it was the visitors who almost grabbed the opening try minutes later as a searing break from Hemming almost saw right wing Sam Smith scoring only to be held up on the Rams line.
And it took another scorching tackle from skipper Amor to prevent scrum half Harry Preece from going over soon after.
As Rams resolute defence held firm it came at the expense of hooker Ben Henderson who went off with a rib injury to be replaced by Matt Weller while shortly after it was No.8 Gus Davies who had to leave the field with a gashed cheek and to herald the arrival of Rams past captain and lock Owen Root returning after 15 months out through injury.
With Cents also losing lock Ben Slatter to injury Rams finally opened their account following a great break from influential flanker Azza Hopkins who had a massive game throughout and to find wing Poole who chased up and grabbed his own neat little kick into space to race over and touch down and for Flower to convert with ease, 7-0.
Within minutes Rams found themselves down to 14 men when Hughes was sent to the bin for not rolling away in the tackle but, despite a late flourish from the visitors, Rams were able to hold out until half time.
And it was the visitors who were going to score next as they again put pressure on the home defence in the opening ten minutes of the second half before right wing Smith drove over for the touchdown only for Hemming to again miss his target.
Rams, however, had the perfect repost as a big break from Flower opened up the Cents defences and eventually led to prop James Baker crashing over in the left-hand corner for his second try of the season.
Flower couldn't convert and neither could the luckless Hemming just six minutes later when Cents cut the deficit to 12-10 after centre Sam Goatley steamed over in the right-hand corner for an unconverted touchdown.
With Will Clark now on at scrum half and Hill moving out on to the wing Rams managed to up the tempo and a great period of possession was finally rewarded when Amor, Clark, lock Tom Bryson and loose-head Jack Steadman all had a hand in the build-up before Flower finally sent Poole scorching over for his second try of the match although, this time, Flower was unable to add the extras.
And, within minutes, Rams had stretched their lead to 22-10 after Weller and Root had both had a hand in once again driving hard at the visitors defence before the ball came back from a ruck and Flower sent Hill scorching over but too wide out for the fly half to add the extras.
With both Bryson and Massey picking up yellow cards in the dying minutes for killing the ball Cents took advantage when centre Ryan Townsend powered over in the corner and Hemming's conversion ended the match.
Rams delighted double try scorer Olly Poole said afterwards: “It was good to score twice and that was the second time this season. The space really opened up and I enjoyed it. But it was a really hard game and I'm a bit sore!”
“We've six more games to go now and I believe we can win the title if we all pull together!”
The win increased Rams gap over second placed Exmouth to six points while with six games left to play they now face a trip to Gloucestershire next Saturday where they take on Old Patesians.
Rams: Duffelen; Poole, Bryant, Massey, Dampies; Flower, Hill; Steadman, Henderson, Baker; Hughes, Bryson; Amor (c), Hopkins, Davies. Reps all used | - Weller, Root, Clark.

Steve Williams