Brooks deluge swamps Reds

James Brooks booted Rams to the top of the National 3 South West table with an immaculate display of place-kicking at Old Redcliffians. He landed nine out of nine attempts, several from wide out.
But the scrum-half was quick to pay tribute to the pack setting up the early penalties, admitting: “I owe it to the forwards. They made it possible to get into a rhythm early on.”
The University student works hard at his kicking. On Fridays he has no lectures, so he spends a couple of hours practising.
He steered Rams into a 9-0 lead after 16 minutes with three penalties after the Bristol side showed frailties in the scrum and under the high ball.
And in winning all their lineout ball, the set piece proved to be the corner stone of their success.
Redcliffians’ problems increased when No 8 Ethan Doyle was yellow carded and soon after Ramss skipper Andy Amor pounced on a loose ball at a short yardage scrum to score.
In a lively first half, Rams full-back Joe Duffelen was sent to the sin-bin and a Henry Bird touchdown and Jack Steer penalty reduced the arrears for the home side.
But between these scores, slick passing ended with an audacious dummy by the visitors hooker Ben Henderson who crossed to make it 23-8 at the interval.
Early in the second-half another Reds yellow card led to two quick tries for Rams No 8 Jamie Guttridge from forward pressure.
With the try bonus point ensured, Gensians relaxed and allowed the opposition to have their best spell which produced little.
But in the closing minutes Rams outscored the opposition two touchdowns to one with a penalty try and a Joe Duffelen effort to a Doyle reply.
Rams: Duffelen; Poole, Bryant, Massey, Foxley; Flower, Brooks; Weller, Henderson, Baker, Bryson, Hughes, Amor, Hopkins, Guttridge. Reps: Steadman, Davies, Clark.