The visitors took a 12th-minute lead as Tom Walsh crossed the whitewash, only for an Ant Marris effort converted by Will Partington to nudge Rams in front.

The Dogs struck back as Tom Curtis knocked over a kick after touching down, but it was 14-12 to the hosts at the interval as the duo of Marris and Partington repeated their trick.

And Ollie Longmore try pushed Sale ahead midway through the third quarter, only for Jak Rossiter to match the effort for 19-17.

Curtis kicked a penalty, but a Ben Henderson try saw the lead change hands again.

Unfortunately there was a final sting in the tail as Longmore doubled his tally, Curtis on target, before Partington’s long-range penalty attempt with the final play drifted agonisingly wide.

A second defeat in as many weeks arrived seven days later as Rams put in their worst performance of the season to lose 37-17 at Cinderford.

Mike Austin converted Nathan Taylor’s try to give the Foresters the lead, and despite Partington touching down in reply, it was 17-5 at the break with Austin also adding the extras to a Dec Fissenden effort and landing a penalty.

A George Gladding interception try was also converted by Austin, and his second penalty created a 22-point gap.

Ollie Moffitt barged over for Rams, Partington landing the kick, though Austin knocked over another three-pointer for 30-12.

A Henry Bird try gave the visitors hope, but another maul try, this time by Shaun Knight and added to by Austin, ensured it was Cinderford who prevailed.

After their pre-Christmas home game with Chinnor was postponed due to a cold snap, Rams began 2023 with a hard-fought 24-19 success at Hull.

Tries from Bird, Ollie Cole and Rossiter, plus two Partington conversions, made it 19-0 at the interval, Josh Collis wrapping up the bonus-point early in the second period.

Hull rallied, superbly, though, and secured a losing bonus thanks to tries from Keane Naylor, Steve Johnson and Mike Adlard, Reece Dean adding the extras twice.

A sublime opening quarter, in which Partington converted tries from Max Hayman, Dan Swain and Ollie Allan, helped Rams to a convincing 26-14 home win against Bishop’s Stortford.

Charlie Robson’s 54th-minute try wrapped up the bonus-point, and despite Connor Lloyd converting his own effort and one from Alex Rayment, it was a comfortable home success.

The trip to Darlington Mowden Park was frozen off the week after before one of the game’s of the season ended with a dramatic 33-27 triumph at Cambridge.

Things looked bleak early on as maul tries from Anthony Maka and Ben Brownlie, both converted by Steffan James, had the hosts 14-5 up.

Hayman hit back with a cracker down the left, but another converted Brownlie score and a James penalty made it 24-5 at half-time.

The returning Alex Seers was on target after Ben Henderson went over, but a second James penalty made it a three-score game again.

However, in an amazing final quarter, Bird touched down for 27-19 before a moment of Partington magic saw him collect his chip before touching down, then converting.

And with the clock in injury-time, Bird went in from 60 metres out, Partington’s conversion and a Rossiter turnover completing an amazing comeback triumph.

Earlier in the season:

September
October
November