Old Centralians 7 Redingensians Rams 16

In a match laced with second half thunder and lightning plus heavy rain it was Rams who finally found their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to stay fourth in the table behind leaders Lydney, Old Redcliffians and Bracknell.

League new boys Centralians, without a win in six outings since last seasons promotion and in their first season at National level, certainly proved more than worthy opponents in the conditions but, in the end, it was the Brooks positional boot and place-kicking that finally made the telling difference.

As the modest scrum half said afterwards: “It's my job really while the kicking from some of the other lads went well especially Josh Smith. But I think that the forwards worked really, really, hard and the three penalties were just all credit to them.”

And he added: “We were keen to get a decent win here, score some tries and were looking to play some flowing rugby but, unfortunately, the conditions didn't allow that. But we changed our ways and we changed our plan and we worked really hard.

“After that big downpour in the second half we knew we were going to have to play `up the jumper' rugby.”

Rams, however, had a problem even before kick-off when they discovered they had left their shirts behind in Berkshire. Fortunately their hosts came up with a set of their non-clashing 3rd team shirts they could use and the game got under way on time With prop Matt Weller and young flanker Jack Williams both making their senior team debuts Rams made a lively enough start only to concede a shock fifth minute try.

It followed an interception of a errant Rams pass that had home fly half Conner Gwilliam steaming off up the field and for supporting No.8 Rich Pinkney to send their outstanding full back Lewis May racing over the line for the Gwilliam converted touchdown.

It was a shock for Rams who had enjoyed the lions share of the ball up until then and it took another 11 minutes before they could open their own account and draw level.

This time it was Rams centre Steve Bryant who latched on to an errant pass and who carved open the home defence from 40 meters for the touchdown and hand Brooks his first points of the match with an easy conversion.

It was the Brooks who had Rams, 10-7, in front on 30 minutes after a home forward had got offside at a ruck near his own 22 and left the scrum half with a simple three pointer to take them to the break.

With rain now lashing down, accompanied by streaks of lightning and thunder, the ball became slippery hindering progress for both sides.
But it was the visitors who coped better and their relentless pressure, particularly in the fourth quarter, brought it's rewards with two Brooks penalties for infringements by the home side at the breakdown to ensure the four points while Cents kicker Gwilliam missed with one, late, long-range attempt.

Up front debut making Rams prop Matt Weller gave a solid and competent display particularly in the tight while fellow in-form prop and evergreen James Baker was again in fine form driving hard at the opposition whenever he could.

Although the pack was never troubled in the tight and their back-row functioned adequately their line-out jumping could have been better while behind the scrum a settled seven augmented by Spike Chandler in the second half made the best of the conditions.

Rams Director of rugby Mike Tewkesbury summed up afterwards: “It was never going to be easy but we put them under pressure, we challenged them and got the rewards with the penalties.

“We also got ourselves into positions and made sure that they were having to play their way out in very difficult conditions and these are places you've got to come to and win if you want to progress in this league because this afternoons game could have been anybody's!”
Rams now take on Newton Abbott at the Old Bath Road Ground this Saturday, (26th), 3pm

Rams: Bryans; Smith, Bryant, Amor, McDermotroe; Gumbleton, Brooks; Weller, Paxton, Baker; Root (c), Kenneally; Bryson, Williams, Jeffreys. Reps – Diplock, Poole, Chandler (all used).

Report By Steve Williams