A PHYSICAL and clinical away performance helped Rams make it six National One bonus-point wins in a row with a hard-fought 28-14 triumph at Darlington Mowden Park.

The opening quarter was a nip and tuck affair with some big collisions setting the tone for the contest, but it was the away side who drew first blood after Callum Mackenzie was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on, Rams going to the corner for Max Hayman to rumble over at the back of a maul.

Fraser Honey landed a superb touchline conversion, but despite one fizzing Charlie Robson burst down the left, they were the only points of the opening half.

The visitors, though, extended their advantage early in the second period, the maul again used to perfect effect as Hayman bagged a 19th try of the campaign, Honey this time landing a beauty from the opposite side for 14-0.

Things got even better shortly afterwards as another close-range line-out led to Rams’ third of the afternoon, this time a short throw to Robbie Stapley sent back to Hayman for the hooker to barge towards the line.

On this occasion he was stopped short, but Mowden Park were unable to stop James McRae from wriggling over for another try added to by the imperious boot of Honey.

The visitors’ defence, outstanding all afternoon, was eventually breached for the first time when Charlie Smith collected a clever chip over the top, Darlington skipper Callum Pascoe with the easiest of conversions from in front of the uprights.

The introduction of Ollie Monye saw the scrum-half make a searing break deep into Park territory before a superb tap-tackle stopped him going the distance, but his side did not have to wait long to seal their bonus-point.

After Smith became the second home player to be carded for a knock-on, another rumbling maul took Rams towards the line and while Mowden were able to eventually repel it, the ball was switched right for Axel Kalling-Smith to glide under the posts.

Another Honey conversion extended the lead to 28-7, but the home side kept coming and kept their feint hopes alive when Sam Kyle-Clay crawled over from close range.

A bizarre sequence towards the end saw Monye sin-binned for a high tackle but also earn Rams a penalty when he was tackled in the air in the ensuing play, but the reduction in numbers made no difference as his side held on for an important victory in the north.

Rams return to action at home to in-form Sale on Saturday, March 9.