Rams show strength of squad over easter weekend

Weston crashed heavily 43-8 at Exmouth on Saturday so Rams have all to play for when the two sides clash at The Recreation Ground this coming Saturday (Apl 6).

Grindle grabbed his first in the opening half as a much changed Rams line-up stretched out a 20-0 half-time lead. And, as they continued to dominate after the break going 34-0 ahead, he dabbed down his sides final two tries of the half to ensure Rams 16th league win of the season.

As well as a penalty try the other touchdowns came from wing Roy Wilkinson, prop James Baker and skipper and lock Owen Root.
He said afterwards: “Today was what rugby’s all about. We played open exiting rugby and we showed endeavour in all areas of the park. The front eight provided class ball and that was demonstrated by Joe Grindle scoring three tries.”

And, he was also full of praise for the players who came in for those unavailable due to the fixture having to be moved to the Easter weekend following the previous weeks postponement due to a snow bound pitch.
“Really it’s a testament to the club that these boys will step up and it shows the depth that we have at the club and it’s incredibly necessary at this level,” he added.

Rams were ahead as early as the fourth minute when as the home side thwarted their visitors first real onslaught a Quins forward had already gone over the top at a ruck and referee Chris Thomas called them back for the penalty which Josh Smith, standing in for the missing Guy Swadling, kicked comfortably.

In fact his long-range boot from hand was much in evidence early on and although he missed a second penalty attempt he was bang on with the simple conversion of their opening try after 14 minutes.
It came from some solid work by the versatile centre Andy Amor to set up Grindle who broke a tackle and swerved his way some 30 yards to the line and in under the posts.

And they had added a second touchdown just four minutes later following a great steal on the deck from prop James Baker and driven on by Root, No.8 Ian Jeffreys, fly half Nigel Gumbleton before Root finally crashed over and Smith converted.

With Quins reduced to 14 men following a yellow card for flanker Mike Forde Rams grabbed their final try of the half with two minutes to go when Gumbleton, Smith and Amor all had a hand in the build-up before sending wing Roy Wilkinson over for an unconverted touchdown and a 20-0 interval lead.

And with the home side losing fly half Guilliam Bourda to injury Rams again hammered away at the Quoins line after the break but couldn’t increase their lead until the 58th minute when after a succession of scrums on the Quins five metre line all collapsing due to the home sides inability to stay straight and upright the referee awarded a penalty try that Smith converted with ease.

Just six minutes later they were 34-0 in front after good work from Wilkinson and Smith was finally rewarded as play swept back in to mid-field and grafting, mobile, prop James Baker piled over for his sixth try of the season and converted by Smith.

Wilkinson then carved out the initial opening that led to Grindle’s second try wide out on the right that had Rams comfortably 39-0 in front only to concede there only points of the match, six minutes later, when replacement Freddie Myatt touched down and full back Will Hilton converted.

Within two minutes Rams responded in inimitable style with an excellent touchdown handled by almost all of the side before Grindle was set free on the right to complete his hat-trick and almost from the restart the referee blew for time.

Up front lock Tom Bryson had an excellent game both at the line-out and around the park while behind the scrum Gumbleton filled the No.10 shirt with great aplomb especially having not played in that position for quite some time.

Overall it was a comfortable win from a much changed Rams side who took time to settle but, in the end, did themselves justice to keep the squad in confident mood as they prepare to face Weston-super-Mare next Saturday.

Rams: Simon Swadling; Joe Grindle, Andy Amor, Josh Smith, Roy Wilkinson; Nigel Gumbleton, Will Clark; Chris Betts, Rory Paxton, James Baker; Owen Root (c), Tom Bryson; Ollie Randall, Andries Steenkamp, Ian Jeffreys. Reps – Scott Breadmore, Chris Emmett, Jeremy Flynn.

Report by Steve Williams