MATCH REPORT: COLTS BATTLE INTO NATIONAL CUP QUARTER-FINALS

RAMS Colts reached the quarter-finals of the National Cup with a terrific 13-5 home win against a strong Old Patesians side.

Things looks ominous early on for the hosts, their Gloucestershire opponents coming out of the traps quickly and camping inside Rams territory for most of the opening 10 minutes.

The Pats’ pack contained plenty of plenty of strong ball carriers – none more notable than outstanding No. 8 Sam Handlay – but the hosts’ defence was exceptional until the weight of pressure finally told when the ball was spread wide for an Ollie Downwood try in the right-hand corner.

The conversion attempt came up short into a relatively strong breeze, but the setback seemed to galvanise Rams who began to show the form which had seen them previously overcome Marlow, Beaconsfield and Marlborough.

Indeed, they came close to levelling matters when forcing a deliberate knock-on inside the Pats’ 22, the away side reduced to 14 men with a sin-bin for the infringement.

They did, however, manage to get on terms two minutes before the interval, hammering away at the line before Matt Cox’s lovely weighted pass gave Callum du Preez a simple stroll over on the right.

Cox’s attempt to add the extras drifted to the right, and Rams were given a huge let-off with the final play of the half when a nailed-on try was butchered with a knock-on less than a metre short of the whitewash.

The third quarter proved a scrappy affair, both sides mixing some fine rugby with unforced errors, but it was the home team who made a decisive move with another slick move from their three-quarters, Cox this time sending Patrick Brown over on the left, the outside centre doing superbly to get the ball down before being bundled into touch.

The wind nudged the conversion attempt just short and right, but Cox made amends with the simplest of penalties for a two-score lead after the visitors failed to roll away at the breakdown.

A bullocking charge from Cian Tappan had the increasingly vocal home support on their feet, but after he was hauled down and a penalty conceded, it was back to defending for the final stages of the contest.

Yet despite being reduced to 14 men following a succession of infringements, Rams produced some magnificent goal-line defence before a timely forced knock-on turnover at the breakdown from Obi Nwachuku effectively put the game to bed, the final whistle being blown in midfield shortly afterwards.