Rams Finale

Six tries, three in either half and all from different players, plus 16 points from the boot of full back and man of the match Spike Chandler saw Rams make off with all five points in their swag bag at the end of a tetchy match that had their hosts reduced to 14 men for almost an hour.

Rams win leaves them fifth in the final league table that’s seen them bed in a new look line-up that will surely be looking for promotion next term when they will be led yet again by skipper Owen Root.
Summing up last Saturday’s performance he said: “The boys played some fantastic rugby and if you look at the off-loading in perfect conditions some of the rugby we played today was spectacular and really the strongest side came through with the right result in the end
“The season has been incredibly long, incredibly tough, but one I’ve enjoyed every minute of and it’s thanks to everyone involved in the club. A number of people have had to step up and players, coaches and committee have supported us and we’ve worked very, very, hard to achieve what we have.”

Root has already been offered and accepted the captaincy for next season saying: “We lost a huge player in Chris Rowlands with all his experience and it’s always tough to lose your captain, but I’ve been lucky enough to come in and have the support of everyone here and they’ve helped me through it. I’ve enjoyed it and working with the boys and I’m looking forward to taking in on again next season.”

Despite having little time in which to prepare, due to a crash on the M4 that forced them to find another route and caused their late arrival, Rams hit the road running when, after just a couple of minutes, their pack drove the home eight backwards at a rate of knots, a feat they were to repeat throughout the game.
While there were no early points on the board they did, however, open their account after 20 minutes when Chandler kicked the first of his two penalties.

And it was of no surprise, due to the physical nature of the match, that five minutes later Old Boys hooker Neil Evans was red-carded for punching hooker Mike Fisher while both Rams flanker Tom Bryson and Old Boys fly half Matt Belbin clashed and were yellow carded soon after.
With 13 playing 14 Rams took full advantage to steal further ahead with two quick tries both converted magnificently by Chandler. The first from centre Andy Amor, continuing on from where he finished the previous week, and a second, almost from the restart, when lock Connor Stapley piled over.

A Chandler penalty kick to touch also set up Rams third try when from Stapley’s take at the resultant line-out Baker battered his way towards the line and, although held, broke free to smash his way over and for Chandler to convert for a 24-0 lead The Old Boys did manage to break their duck by half-time however thanks to a Belbin try, converted by centre Andy Taylor and to turn around at half-time trailing Rams, 24-7.

The visitors had increased their lead within four minutes of the restart when, after a great drive up the right from prop Chris Betts, the ball was spun back inside it for No.8 Ian Jeffreys to finished off dabbing down under the posts and for Chandler to add the extras.
His second penalty followed soon afterwards before a second consolation score for the home side when left-wing Charlie Evans charged down a Chandler clearance and he raced on to the loose ball for the Taylor converted score.

But Rams had the final say with two tries in the closing five minutes. The first from the hard-working fly half Nigel Gumbleton, scorching through the tiring home defence from just inside their half, converted by Chandler, and, in the last minute, wing Josh Smith grabbed his 10th touchdown of the season to make him the team’s leading try-scorer of the season with 10.

Centre Steve Bryant who’s mid-field tackling all afternoon was immense summed up afterwards: “I loved it. It was a good run-out. The seasons had its ups and down but the majority’s been ups. Some results could have gone another way and that would have changed the season but I’ve loved every minute of it, it’s been good.”

Rams – Spike Chandler; Josh Smith, Andy Amor, Steve Bryant, Roy Wilkinson; Nigel Gumbleton, Will Clark; Chris Betts, Mike Fisher, James Baker; Owen Root, Conor Stapley; Tom Bryson, Andries Steenkamp, Ian Jeffreys. Reps – Rudal Aiono, Mike Weedon, Joe Grindle.

Report by Steve Williams.