Rams enjoyed most of the early field position but struggled to cross the whitewash due to errors (the windy conditions made it a tough afternoon for the hookers at the line-outs) and a resolute Ding’s defence. And it was the Crusaders that got the first score with a well-worked wide attack, beautifully finished by outside centre Matt Smith, and even more skilfully converted into a swirling wind, from the touch-line, by Steve Plummer.
By that time, taking consecutive games together, Rams had conceded 4 tries in 60 minutes without scoring a point of their own. Perhaps that jolted the Reading men into action because the next 20 minutes belonged to the visitors with 2 tries from hooker Ben Henderson, the second due to a piece of individual magic, a penalty try and Andrew Denham’s first of the afternoon from the wing to give the visitors a 24-7 half-time lead.
Rams were not content to rest on their laurels and opened the second-half at a blistering pace until a pinpoint kick from fly-half Alex Seers put winger Connor Corrigan in for his first of the afternoon on the 43rd minute. Seers could not grab the extras, so the score became 29-7 to Rams.
Crusaders’ Matt Smith grabbed his second of the match on 49 minutes, but Plummer could not add the extras and most of the remainder of the half belonged to Rams. Corrigan got his second try thanks to another measured kick from Seers, and Denham crossed on the 58th and 75th minutes to bag a hat-trick.
Crusaders fought valiantly to the end and were rewarded with a 79th minute try by hooker Thomas Anderson, but it was too little too late, which left the Bristol men pointless for their afternoon’s work.
Rams’ head coach Seb Reynolds was delighted with the final score but warned against complacency. “I was very pleased with this result because Dings are a good side with a defence that is difficult to break-down and you could see that from all their hard work in the first 20 minutes”, and Reynolds went on “despite all our field position, you only have to make a slight error at this level and you get punished. Matt Smith [Ding’s outside centre] is a very dangerous runner. We gave him half a chance and he took it, so bearing in mind that after 20 minutes we were 7-nil down away to a side with a good defence, I am really pleased with the way we responded”.
Next week Rams entertain a very dangerous Taunton team AT HOME in what should be a cracking encounter.
With only three home games left this season, Rams’ players hope their supporters will come out in force to cheer them on. Kick off at 2.30pm