Match Report from Cameron Temple
Photos by Paul Clark - S2S Photography
The afternoon began with an air of confidence around the ground as the Rams were coming off the back of a string of impressive home wins enjoyed immensely by Rams supporters at Old Bath Road. There were also some exciting additions to the starting line up with Olly Poole returning following his ACL injury and Brothers Connor and Robbie Stapley starting together. The Rams began where they had left of the previous week with a bright start as Weller broke following some fast flowing rugby 4 minutes into the game only to be brought back by the whistle of the referee. The Rams dominated the early exchanges and were eventually rewarded with their seventh penalty try of the season after 10 minutes following a typically impressive display of power from the Rams pack. With Barnstaple beginning to look a little out of their depth, the referee piled on the pressure by awarding Barnstaple’s Southworth a yellow card, leaving them in danger of being blown away early in the game. However, determined not to go down without a fight, Barnstaple reacted well with a darting attacking run from Berry, which resulted in a penalty for Barnstaple that was converted well by Petherbridge to put the first points of the afternoon on the board for the away team. However, the Rams re-established their dominance quickly when, just as it seemed the Rams may be stagnating close to the oppositions try line, Corrigan broke and brilliantly side stepped his opposite number to acrobatically stretch the ball over the line, as the Redingensians took full advantage of their extra man. Barnstaple came within touching distance of increasing their tally around the 25-minute mark only for a resilient Rams defence to be led out of danger powerfully by man of the match Robbie Stapley. It seemed as if the Rams would head into half time without suffering any further damage to their lead as their organised defence held back the high energy attacking zeal of Barnstaple, but just before half time Redingensian’s Bryant was sent to the sin bin for foul play and Barnstaple capitalised on this to take the score to 14 – 10 to the Rams at half time. It became clear immediately in the second half that the Rams were fired up following a huge hit from Connor Stapley, which got the crowd on their feet. Although the Rams were perhaps a little too eager as they were snatching at the ball and were let down close to the line on two occasions due to sloppy handling, but they quickly rectified this as a skillful pass from Souter opened up space for Foxley to run the ball in on the 53 minute mark to put distance on the scoreboard between themselves and their opponents. Over the next ten minutes or so the game lost the natural flow that spectators had been enjoying so much previously due to a plethora of stoppages. Nonetheless, the ever reliable Rams pack began to get the crowd going again as their superior fitness began to shine through, and following two close cut chances for Corrigan he demonstrated some intelligent play to take Barnstaple into touch within their own 22. This resulted in a typical Rams move of a line out and drive to the line with Berry placing the ball over the line as the Reading men secured their well deserved bonus point. They weren’t finished there though as returning man Poole demonstrated some electric pace to score in the corner following a precise and accurate passing move by the Redingensians to put the game beyond any doubt. Humberstone converted the try well from a tight angle to make the score 33 – 10 to the Rams and comfortably achieve yet another home victory for the Redingensians.
Stats:
Redingensians 33 Barnstaple 10

Redingensians:
Tries: Penalty try 10, Corrigan 18, Foxley 53, Berry 71, Poole 76
Conversions: Humberstone 19, 71, 76
Penalties:
Drop Goals:

Barnstaple:
Tries: Hayler 38
Conversions: Petherbridge 38
Penalties: Petherbridge 14
Drop goals:

Attendance: 348
Referee: Charlie Gayther
Half time: 14 - 10
Star Man: Robbie Stapley - Redingensians

Teams (15-9, then 1-8)
Redingensians: Foxley, Poole, Bryant, Souter, Corrigan, Humberstone, Illingworth, Weller, Henderson, Berry, Taylor, Thomson, Stapley C, Vooght, Stapley R
Replacements: O’Meara, Kidd, Morrison, Collis, Lloyd

Barnstaple: Berry, Topps, Bond, Murphy, Lee, Parks, Petherbridge, Southworth, Crouch, Angell, Lloyd, Hague, Winston, Hayler, Bayet
Replacements: Turner, Childs, Willis, Pennyfield, Bath