Rams butt Newton Abbot aside in bonus point win

Redingensians Rams 30 Newton Abbot 25

Rams moved up to sixth in the National League 3 South West table following their bonus point win over high-flying Newton Abbott, the All Whites, at The Old Bath Road Ground last Saturday.
In, probably, their best performance of the season so far, four tries - including one of three in the opening 20 minutes for debut making hooker Rory Paxton - aided by the boot of fly half Guy Swadling saw them lift all five points on offer.
Rams stung their travel weary visitors early on to go 19-3 up after just 19 minutes before the visitors had time to recover and, to even, take a 22-19 lead at one point early in the second half.
It was certainly the perfect start for Rams lock Owen Root who was leading the side for the first time in the absence of injured skipper and hooker Chris Rowland.
He said afterwards: “We played some fantastic phases we looked after the ball very well but, most of all, we worked incredibly hard in all facets of the game.
“It was a testament to our defence and our work-rate, fitness as well, as we kept going and in the way we did and everyone in the squad worked their hardest to get a result at the end.
“We stuck at it and it was our first real performance, one to fifteen, for a few games and I’m very proud of them.”
Rams fizzed from the start and, after two great drives up the middle of the park, went in front on four minutes when full back Joe Duffelen sent centre Steve Bryant roaring in and Swadling collected his first two-pointer.
Three minutes later No.8 Ian Jeffries impressive drive up the middle paved the way for centre Nigel Gumbleton to touchdown only for Swadling to miss with his conversion attempt.
Although All Whites fly half Rob Avery-Wright opened his sides account with a penalty minutes later, Rams increased their lead on 19 minutes when the entire Rams back row plus wing Josh Smith combined to set up Paxton, on a blinding run in from the 22, for try number three and again converted by Swadling.
Shaking off their earlier lethargy the All Whites had hit back by the break to trail 19-15 thanks to tries from flanker Brett Stoud, Avery-Wright converting, and scrum-half Matt Newman.
And a 46 minute converted try from loose-head prop Lloyd Radford even had the visitors in front for a brief while early in the second half.
But a Swadling penalty, three minutes later, had the sides all-square, 22-22, and another from the fly-half on 24 minutes edged Rams back in front.
Within two minutes they had increased their lead as Swadling and Gumbleton combined well to send in Duffelen for an unconverted try and to ensure the bonus point .
“It’s a great feeling to score on your debut – fantastic,” commented new-boy and try-scoring hooker Paxton. “It was a really tough game and it was nice to get my hands on the ball in the first five minutes and raise my confidence and I’m really chuffed to get the win.”
Rams, who’ve now won their last three successive games, now look forward to next Saturdays trip to Old Patesians who now sit ninth in the table having crushed Oxford Harlequins, 16-34, away from home last Saturday.
Redingensians Rams:- Duffelen; Smith, Bryant,Gumbleton, Randell; Swaddling, Clark; Rumble, Paxton, Baker; Root, Stapley; Amor, Hopkins, Jeffries. Reps - Crame, Hallett (used), Webb.
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