MATCH REPORT: LATE RAMS RALLY NOT ENOUGH AT PLYMOUTH

RAMS’ faint National One title hopes were all but ended as they went down 28-22 at Plymouth Albion.

After a cagey opening 10 minutes it was the away side who took the lead, a perfectly weighted Ollie Monye grubber kick dived on by Zach Clow for the opener.

Fraser Honey landed a wonderful touchline conversion from wide on the right, but Albion hit back quickly, winning a scrum penalty before a kick to the corner was followed by a rampant rolling maul, Tom Cowan-Dickie the beneficiary as Tom Putt levelled with the extras.

Rams replied, however, this time showcasing their own powerful set-piece with hooker Max Hayman at the back of a surging drive for his 23rd try of a prolific campaign.

Albion came close shortly after as captain Jack Oulton burst 40 metres through the middle, only for the scrum-half’s long pass to end out of play on the left.

The visitors’ respite was short-lived, though, a lost line-out five metres from their own line eventually ending with Ramaz Rukhadze burrowing over from close range.

A second successful Putt conversion nudged his side in front, and things then went from bad to worse for Rams as Charlie Robson was harshly sin-binned for a high tackle before his side were left with 13 as Monye was carded for a push on Rukhadze.

The visitors battled gamely despite their numerical advantage, but Albion landed a body blow with the final play of the first half, a five-metre scrum setting the platform for Morgan Stone to cross on the left, Putt again on target for 21-12.

However, restored to their full compliment, Rams came out of the blocks firing at the start of the second period, winning a scrum penalty of their own before Monye and Clow almost combine for a repeat of the opening try.

They did, though, get back within a score as a kick to the corner enabled captain Robbie Stapley to get over for his 99th first-team try, Honey’s kick striking the right-hand upright.

Plymouth, though, continued to have the better of territory and possession and a superb Gabe Mead break freed Archie Hill for their bonus-point score, Putt keeping up his record for 28-17.

The fly-half finally erred with a 40-metre penalty effort, and Rams gave themselves hope as Hayman doubled his tally in injury-time as Angus Hodges and Jake Bond were both yellow carded for the hosts.

But the hosts managed to grab a loose ball at the breakdown, and after Dan Swain made a wonderful try-saving tackle on Jenson Boughton, Oulton booted the ball out to end the contest.

Rams - now eight points behind leaders Chinnor - welcome Richmond to Old Bath Road for their final home game of the season next Saturday (3pm).