Match Report from Cameron Temple
Photos courtesy of S2S Photography
The first game of December was held in arctic conditions at Old Bath road as early tries in the second half secured yet another home victory for the Rams with the score at 29 – 17.
The Rams bounced back from their loss away at Taunton the previous week with a dominant performance against a Bury side that sat only one points adrift of the home side at the start of play.
However, the game was marred due to a nasty injury for Bury’s Coutts as Rams coach Seb Reynolds expressed his concern as he spoke to us after the match saying, “I thought our players demonstrated great enthusiasm and tempo right from the off. We did really well in the second half to take the game away from Bury, but with the amount of injuries they have I thought they were impressive and I hope their player recovers quickly.”
The Rams began the game in fired up fashion, seemingly determined to bounce back from their loss the previous week, and this was almost rewarded after ten minutes as the Rams embarked up their signature line out and drive to the line only to be held back valiantly by the Bury defence, an early sign that they had not come to be trodden on.
With the Rams dominating possession for the first ten minutes they decided to put points on the board to show for their efforts with a penalty kick, but it was pulled wide by the usually reliable boot of Humberstone.
Nonetheless, it did not take long for the Rams to redeem themselves as Corrigan burst through with explosive pace to score under the posts following a dinked kick from Foxley.
The game entered a quiet period as Bury finally found their way out of their own half and began putting pressure on the Rams defence.
This was until, just past the 20 minute mark, man of the match Berry displayed some quick thinking to tap and go as he flew through the Bury defence and popped it off to playmaker Humberstone, who brilliantly whipped the ball out wide for Illingworth, in acres of space, as he ran the ball in under the posts for the try of the afternoon.
As it seemed as if the Reading men would see the half out with a disciplined defensive performance, Bury’s Affleck found a gap on the wing to run the ball over the try line and leave the Rams with a slender 12 – 5 lead going into the break.
The Rams came out flying once again in the second half as Corrigan broke early on and demonstrated quick hands to pop the ball off to Amor, who ran the ball in under the posts, setting up Humberstone for an easy conversion, as Bury were punished once again for their lackadaisical start to the half.
This was not even the end to Bury’s woes as moments later Illingworth stole the ball following a scrum and stretched the ball over the Bury try line amongst a heap of bodies to leave the game beyond the reach of the Bury men.
On the 60 minute mark, Bury managed to string together a rare period of possession, which was eventually rewarded with a hard fought try despite the spirited defensive effort by the reading men.
Following a lengthy stoppage for a nasty head injury on Bury’s Coutts, the Rams added three more points to their tally with a penalty kick from the trusty boot of Humberstone.
Moments later, as the game entered its final ten minutes, it seemed as if the Rams would add a fifth try as Rossiter broke skillfully only to go down with an injury, which allowed Bury to regain possession.
Following a period of sustained attacking pressure from the Bury men they whipped the ball out wide and scored what was only to be a consolation try.
However, in the final few minutes Bury continued to push hard for what would be their bonus point try, desperate to get something out of the game.
Unfortunately for them, it was not to be, as they couldn’t break down the wall that is the Rams defence, despite their advantage of an extra man owing to the yellow card of the Rams’ Berry, as the Rams captured yet another home victory.
Next week the Rams travel to Canterbury to play the 5th placed side - KO 3pm.

Stats:

Redingensians Rams
Tries: Corrigan 12, Illingworth 21, Amor 44, Illingworth 49
Conversions: Humberstone 21, 44, 49
Penalties: Humberstone 66

Bury St Edmunds RFC
Tries: Affleck 35, Corcoran 60, Scholes 72
Conversions: McBride 35

Referee: Benjamin Russell
Half time: 12 - 5
Star Man: Andrew Berry - Redingensians Rams

Teams (15 - 9, then 1- 8)
Redingensians Rams: Foxley, Rossiter, Bryant, Amor, Corrigan, Humberstone, Illingworth, Weller, Henderson, Berry, Taylor, Morrison, Stapley C, Vooght, Stapley R
Replacements: O’Meara, McDonnell-Roberts, Thomson, Duffelen, Lloyd

Bury St Edmunds RFC: Lord, Snelling, Meyers, Simpson, Corcoran, McBride, Anderson-Brown, Smith, King, Coutts, Scholes, Bixby, Mitchell, Stapleton, Browne
Replacements: Watson, Edison, Brown, Navas, Affleck