RAMS returned to National One winning ways with a convincing five-try 31-3 home success against Esher.

In front of another bumper crowd under the Friday Night lights, the hosts came roaring out of the traps and dominated the early exchanges, only to fall behind when two quick penalties enabled Eees’ fly-half Sam Morley to slot a straight-forward kick from in front of the posts.

Yet Rams replied immediately, earning a penalty advantage from a five-metre maul before Fraser Honey’s perfectly weighted cross-field kick was snaffled by Axel Kalling-Smith to cross in the left-hand corner.

The Swedish skipper was then so close to doubling his tally as Jake Murray’s fine box kick was not dealt with, Rowan Grundy scooping it up before being stopped just short of the line – the centre’s off-load just would not stick in Kalling-Smith’s hands with the line at his mercy.

The hosts suffered an injury setback as hooker Morgan MacRae was side-lined, but Ben Atkins proved the man with the Midas touch as his first throw into the set-piece led to a stunning Solodrau Radianirova break before the ball was sent back inside for Atkins to dive over.

Fraser Honey nudged the conversion over, and Kalling-Smith then scored a sensational second as he broke down the left, collecting his own chip ahead before crossing for a wonder-try.

Rams led 17-3 at the break, but a scoreless third quarter proved a bit of an arm wrestle with both sides seeking a key score.

And with eight minutes remaining it was the hosts who secured the bonus-point, again wresting a penalty advantage from a five-metre scrum before Grundy magnificently dived on his own gorgeous kick to send clubhouse corner into raptures.

The conversion was good and Rams continued to apply pressure to the death, eventually earning a penalty try with the final play of the game following a succession of dominant scrums.

Rams are next back in action at Sale on January 11, with the next Old Bath Road fixture against Dings Crusaders a week later.

Final Score: Rams 31-3 Esher (Half Time: 17-3)

Scorers

Rams

Tries: Kalling-Smith 14, 36, Atkins 32, Grundy 73, Penalty 80

Conversions: Honey 33, 74

Esher

Penalty: Morley 11

Star Man: Axel Kalling-Smith (Rams)

Referee: Adam Wookey

Attendance: 1,211

Rams

(15-9, 1-8) Lamb, Clow, Radianirova, Grundy, Kalling-Smith, Honey, Murray; Emanuel, MacRae, Baker, Stapley ©, Swain, Atkins, Duda, McRae

Replacements: Harris, Bishop, Stone, Pozniak, Cole

Esher

(15-9, 1-8) Waters, Robbins, Volley, Rawstron-Rudd, Botterill, Morley, Bullock, Ganley, Spiers, Skoumbourdis, Sammut, Woollard, Norris, McBrearty, McLean

Replacements: Westmacott, Ashworth, Thorne, Walker, Mortimer