Worcester Wanderers 13 Redingensians Rams 26

The four points moves them to within one point of second placed Bracknell, well-beaten at home by league leaders Lydney, 6-30, and three points clear of Brixham and Weston-super-Mare in fourth and fifth.
While Rams did enough to win the match and, in truth, never really looked like losing it, their overall performance left a lot to be desired.

As skipper Owen Root said ruefully afterwards: “We're dejected! We know that there's a lot more to come from this team. It was an improvement on last week in terms of application but we still have to improve our skills at certain points in the game and our decision making throughout the game.

“But we came away with the win and we'll keep on working. Our short term focus is that, game on game, we prepare effectively for the next challenge and we'll see what we can do. We've also got a week off now to recover from some injuries and get some boys back fit and we're really excited about what we can do and move forward.”

Rams kicked off and were 3-0 down within minutes after they were pinged by Devon based ref Ben Chadwick for sealing off the ball at a ruck and fly half Tom Biggs banged over the straight 40 metre penalty.
And it took a further 10 minutes for Rams to quell the home sides early enthusiasm and it was from turnover ball that they finally battled their way into the Wanderers 22. Their pressure resulting in penalties in their favour and from the second of these, some 10 yards out, the nippy Brooks took quickly and shook off the tackles to romp over close to the posts and convert his own score, 3-7.

While Wanderers wasted a great chance of a possible score when their throw-in was not straight on the Rams five meter line the visitors cleared the danger and despite losing flanker Azza Hopkins to concussion, they took a 10-3 lead when Wanderers were penalised for holding on in a ruck and Brooks banged over the resulting penalty
But within three minutes Rams replacement back row man Ian Jeffreys was penalised and yellow carded for driving through a ruck and Biggs had kicked his second penalty to narrow the gap to just four points, 6-10.
Rams, however, had the final say of the half as Wanderers again gave away a penalty under pressure and Brooks casually slotted his 30 meter effort straight between the posts to put the visitors 13-6 ahead to start the second half.

And Rams were given an additional boost early on when Wanderers wing Mike Dodge received a yellow card and, within minutes, they had taken advantage following a great drive off a scrum from the hard -working No.8 Tom Bryson that set up Brooks for his second try of the match.
Despite trailing 21-6 to their visitors Wanderers set about re-dressing the balance and hit back with a well-worked try from their No.8 Jake Saddington and converted by Biggs.

But it was Biggs who missed with a reasonably straightforward penalty attempt, just seven minutes later, when Jeffreys was given a second yellow followed a by a red card and the fly half put his very kickable penalty attempt wide.

With Wanderers also having a player yellow carded soon after Rams were able to see out the half and even extend their lead going into time added on.

This time it was from a penalty to touch inside the home 22 and from the line-out on the home five-metre line Bryson took comfortably to set-up industrious prop James Baker for the touchdown only for Spike Chandler to miss the conversion.

All-in-all Rams deserved their win with the front-row putting in a solid 80 minutes while Bryson was the pick of the back-row.
Behind the scrum Brooks obviously enjoyed his afternoon before being replaced late on by debut making Jack Hill, a recent arrival from Maidenhead, who slipped in effortlessly.

As did full back Chandler getting a rare start and and putting in some intelligent and well placed kicks.

And the man he was replacing at full back Andy Bryans certainly didn't look out of place on the wing and making some telling runs.

Amongst the forwards the front-row more than held their own and there was some great drives from the pack at set-piece time while Bryson continues to enjoy his No.8 role and being the teams main line-out jumper.

He said afterwards: “I seem to have fallen into the No.8 role. I'm enjoying it, I haven't played many games at eight but you learn with each game and you gain more confidence and, hopefully, my performances improve.

“Credit to the boys today it's not about the jumping it's about the boys throwing in and they did a great job today.”
Rams now have a week off before their Nov. 23rd home clash with Weston-super-Mare.

Rams – Chandler; Bryans, Bryant, Amor, Wilkinson; Gumbleton, Brooks; Weller, Owen, Baker; Root (c), Hughes; Poole, Hopkins, Bryson. Reps (All Used) – Crame, Jeffreys, Hill.

Report by Steve Williams