Rams foward power too much for visitors Barnstaple

Redingensians Rams 24 Barnstaple 7
A storming display in the mud from the Rams pack, including tries for prop James Baker and replacement hooker Chris Rowland, saw off their Devonian visitors at The Old Bath Road Ground, 24-7, in a four try bonus point National League 3 South West win.
From loose-head Chris Rumble through to flanker Aaron Hopkins it was a grafting performance from all eight and, in particular, acting skipper and second-row Owen Root who’s growing in stature with every match and working well with exciting newcomer Tom Bryson.
It was Rams fourth win on the trot and while they venture into 2013 lying fifth in the table performances like this in the second half of the season can only see them challenging the front-runners over the coming months.
Root commented afterwards: “It’s the second game at home in a month where the conditions have turned on us and, obviously, we really asked for that skill set to be at a very high level.
“We’ve gone six games without a win bonus against these guys so that just tells us where we’ve started to go on this journey this season. We executed our game plan very well and I was really happy with the boys buying into that and we played with control, with confidence, with patience and that’s the sign of a good side in my opinion.
“We’ve put four successive wins together now which is something to be happy with. We’ve gone the full circle now and the journey continues in the New Year where we are feeling upbeat and positive about what we can do against the sides in this league.
“Barnstaple are a strong side but when we really took it too them they started to wither and struggle and fall to pieces which is a compliment to the way we played the match and controlled things.”
The visitors started positively enough and even had a penalty opportunity after just two minutes only for wing Luke Berry’s kick to hit the upright and bounce back into play.
He made up for it three minutes later, however, when centre Linford Brock latched on to a well-placed cross-field kick and scored wide out and Berry converted for a 7-0 lead.
Rams first chance of points came four minutes later only for fly half Guy Swadling’s kick to fall short. But it signalled a period of intense Rams pressure and eventually Swadling, Root and No.8 Ian Jefferies all combined to send wing Will Rasbridge over in the corner.
Again Swadling missed a chance of two points but, with Andy Amor replacing injured Nigel Gumbleton in the centre, Rams continued to pound the visitors in the tight and, following an intense few minutes scrummaging close to the visitors line, the referee awarded Rams a penalty try which, this time, Swadling converted with ease for a 12-7 interval lead.
And, with the rain now pouring down, that’s how it remained until the 65h minute by which time uncontested scrums were in operation following injuries to the visitors front-rows and elsewhere reducing them to just 14 fit players.
And it soon took it’s toll as a well- judged Swadling touch had his side camped on the visitors five metre line and, after drive after drive, the forwards, finally, smashed their way over for Baker to claim the try.
Although Rams lost flanker Hopkins to a yellow card they were in total control and after Root, Bryson, Baker and Swadling had all tested out the visitors defence it was replacement hooker and returning captain Chris Rowland who powered over for try number four and well converted by Swadling.
Afterwards delighted forwards coach Spike Henderson said: “We’ve tried to work on that all season and in the second-half and in the conditions we just had to keep it down on their line, keep it tight and then it was just pick-and-go, pick-and-go and the lads scored two tries from it and it was excellent.
“The lads played the conditions better than they did but, fair play to Barnstaple, they never gave up. It was to their advantage when we went to uncontested scrums but apart from that well pleased.
“Now we are starting to believe in ourselves and everything that we are doing in training is actually working I think it’s making us a better side and we’re actually starting to click so I’m looking forward to the second-half of the season.”
Rams will be back in action on Saturday, January 5th, with a tough trip to Exmouth.
Rams:- Joe Duffelen; Jez Flynn, Josh Smith, Nigel Gumbleton, Will Rasbridge; Guy Swadling, Will Clark; Chris Rumble, Rory Paxton, James Baker; Owen Root (c), Tom Bryson; Rudal Aiono, Aaron Hopkins, Ian Jeffreys. Reps – Chris Rowland, Andy Amor, Roy Wilkinson.