RAMS Centaurs (3rd XV) produced some scintillating continuity rugby as they returned to winning ways with a 71-5 Counties Two Tribute Berks, Bucks & Oxon South success at Thatcham.

The visitors came flying out of the blocks and were camped in their opponents half early on, butchering a couple of glorious chances before Shane Hancock crossed on the left.

A superb Cameron George conversion followed, and the Mighty Cents moved further in front as he repeated the trick after Chris Kessell went over at the back of a maul.

George was again at the heart of things as his delicate chip was hoovered up by impressive young Welsh wing Joel Davies, the extras making it 21-0 after 17 minutes.

Davies doubled up midway through the second quarter as Rams continued to dominate, George making it four from four with the bonus-point secured before half-time.

A fabulous line from centre Sam Hawkes gave the Cents their fifth try five minutes into the second period as he scythed through from 25 metres out, for the first time George off target from the tee.

The visitors continued to turn the screw and a clever line-out move sent second row Will Rayner scampering down the right before he beat a couple of defenders to dive next to the posts.

George slotted the kick for 40-0, and another try came three minutes later as Josh Grahame’s eye-catching display at flanker was added to by his set-up for Louis Roumignac to cross.

Thatcham are enduring a tough season but stuck to their task gamely, getting on the scoreboard as No. 8 Alex Burke powered over from close range at the start of the final quarter.

However, Rams reasserted themselves and turned the screw in the final 20 minutes, running in four terrific tries.

Firstly, from the restart the visitors regathered the ball to send Theo Pett-Ridge under the posts, the full-back adding to his score to take his side past 50.

Thatcham’s Richard Browne was then sin-binned for a high tackle, Pett-Ridge finishing a stunning team move for a converted score.

An off-the-ball incident saw Alex Twyman red carded for the hosts and George given 10 minutes for retaliation, but Roumignac grabbed his second following fine work from Hancock and Ollie Cullum.

And a final gloss was put on the scoreline as Rayner became the fourth player to bag a brace, Hawkes the creator before Pett-Ridge’s boot completed the scoring.

The win lifts the Centaurs to sixth in the table ahead of Saturday’s home game with second-placed Tadley.