Photographs courtesy of Paul Clark, S2S Photography
Rams travelled to the Athletic Ground for the first ever 1st XV encounter with ex-premiership side, Richmond.

The home side took the lead in the first minute when a penalty gave Richmond’s Rob Kirby his first points of the day in what was to be a masterclass kicking display from the fullback. And the early pressure from the home side was unrelenting leading to the first of their three catch-and-drive tries on the 5th minute, Jake Parker eventually dotting down and Kirby on the mark again to add the extras.

Rams found their stride after the first quarter when a series of phases ended when fly-half Alex Seers’ pin-point kick to the corner gave winger Connor Corrigan a score near the flag. Seers was unable to convert but Rams were back in the game with the score 10-5.

Kirby was on hand again on the 30th minute to slot a second penalty to make the score 13-5, but Rams returned to Richmond’s half and a deft chip and chase for Andy Humberstone gave the centre his first try of the day and Seers conversion reduced the deficit to just a single point with the score 13:12.

The game was to swing dramatically on the 37th minute when some aggressive Richmond rucking left Sean McDonnell-Roberts dazed and when he collapsed at a scrum immediately after the referee awarded a penalty to the home side and a yellow card to the Rams prop. Richmond took advantage with a kick deep into their opposition’s 22 and the now trademark catch and drive was dotted down by the outstanding Ross Grimstone with the ever accurate Kirby on hand to convert the extras and bring the half time score to 20:12

The yellow cards were evened-up on the 43rd minute when Richmond prop Timmy Howard-Walford was given 10 minutes in the sin bin for a high tackle on Rams’ scrum half Ollie Cole. The men from Reading were now in the ascendancy but were met with a monumental defensive effort that forced the visitors to take a shot at the posts after being awarded a penalty on the 45th minute, and Seers was on hand to bring his side within 5 points of their opposition with the score 20-15.

But Rams could not make their numerical advantage stick and a poor exit from the restart allowed Richmond to take possession and put Graham Hamish in space out wide and the winger finished nicely to the delight of the home crowd whilst Kirby added to his tally making it 27:15 and was on the mark again with a penalty on the 61st minute to extend his side’s advantage to 15 points.

Undaunted by a 15 point deficit away to the league leaders Rams rallied again and got within 8 points of their opposition when the exceptional Andy Humberstone completed his brace as fitting reward for an afternoon’s hard work with Seers improving with the conversions to make the score 30-22.

But Richmond finished on the attack after Rams flung everything into the dying seconds of the match only to concede a penalty that was booted to the corner for the home pack to secure their third and final catch-and-drive of the afternoon and grab a try scoring bonus point, the ever reliable Kirby adding two more with yet another exceptional kick between the posts.

Rams DoR Seb Reynolds was reflective after the game saying “you have to understand that when you play a good side like Richmond that is very well coached by an experienced DoR like Steve Hill you pay for your mistakes, especially when they have an exceptional kicker like Rob Kirby at 15” but Reynolds was not downhearted and added “ at the 79th minute it was three tries all at the Athletic Ground which would have been a pipe dream a couple of seasons back. And we fielded some young players today and they were not daunted by the experience, which is great for the future of our side. We will learn from this loss and improve and that and surviving is what this first season in National 1 is all about for us”

This week Rams welcome Hull Ionians to Old Bath Rd – Kick Off 2:30 p.m.