MATCH REPORT: SLOW START COSTS RAMS IN MOSELEY LOSS

RAMS were left to rue a nightmare start as they fell to a 39-31 defeat in their final National One game of the season at Birmingham Moseley.

The hosts hit the front inside three minutes as they spread the ball wide for Aquile Smith to dart in on the left, Tighe Maxwell-Whitely landing a terrific touch-line conversion for 7-0.

A second followed soon after as a superb 50-22 from Ollie Allsopp gave Birmingham a five-metre line-out, and while Rams repelled the initial maul well, hooker Ryan Roach peeled off the back to power over.

Things got even worse as Smith then broke down the left before sending Fredie Painter under the posts, Maxwell-Whiteley on target, and the hosts’ bonus-point was wrapped up inside a quarter-of-an-hour as the hosts hammered away at the line before sending Sam Pointon over on the right.

To their credit Rams refused to give up, getting on the scoreboard as they attacked down the blindside with Max Hayman blasting his way over for a 26th try of the campaign.

Captain Fraser Honey lasered a tremendous conversion through the uprights, but the visitors then conceded a breakdown penalty which allowed Maxwell-Whiteley to make it 27-7.

Rams were denied a second score as Henry Bird was adjudged off-side after claiming a delightful Rowan Grundy grubber kick, but they gave themselves hope before the break as Mike Hoyt burrowed over after James McRae was stopped just short.

Honey’s kick cut the gap to 13 points, and when Hoyt doubled his tally midway through the quarter, the game was well and truly alive.

Moseley, though, reasserted themselves and a pivotal moment saw Honey narrowly unable to pull off an intercept five metres from his line, Allsopp collecting the loose ball and wriggling over.

The conversion attempt hit the post, but after Hayman was yellow carded for a high tackle, Birmingham made their numerical advantage pay as Callum Allen crossed on the right.

A stunning kick from the right made it 39-19, yet Rams again rallied and secured a try bonus-point as replacement Finn Matthews finished well out wide for his maiden National One score.

The hosts always had breathing space, though, and despite Axel Kalling-Smith setting up Ollie Monye for a fifth visitors’ try, Honey’s conversion was the final act of an entertaining game and season.