RAMS slipped to a 27-26 home reverse against Birmingham Moseley in an entertaining encounter at Old Bath Road.
The hosts were guilty of a slow start and were made to pay when replacement hooker Ashley Johnson, who came on early following an injury to Sam McNulty, scored with just his second touch, firstly throwing into a line-out and then touching down at the back of a rolling maul.
Rams rallied almost immediately, however, Connor Stapley claiming a bouncing ball in midfield before surging 35 metres towards the line.
While he was hauled down just short, Max Hayman burrowed over from close range before Sam Nicholls landed a brilliant conversion from the right-hand side.
The home side continued to dominate possession and territory, and Moseley suffered a further setback when Ollie Allsopp was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on as Rams attacked some eight metres out.
And they were made to pay for their numerical disadvantage as the hosts extended their lead, the returning Tom Vooght going over from close range before Nicholls added the extras for 14-5.
Rams were in complete control and had opportunities to further their lead, but they were dealt a sucker-punch on the stroke of half-time, Reikiti Maasi’s superb line break setting-up Dan Lewis for a try which the fly-half converted himself.
Trailing by four points at the break, the visitors moved in front five minutes into the second half as a flowing backs move was well finished by Mason Tonks on the left, Lewis adding the extras to put his side in front.
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Yet Rams once again responded swiftly, Connor Hayhow cutting a fine line to dot down to the right of the uprights.
Nicholls made no mistake to nudge his side back in front at 21-17, but the hosts endured another bitter blow 13 minutes from time as Tonks intercepted the ball five metres from his own line before going the length of the pitch to touchdown on the right.
A fine Lewis conversion pushed his side three points in front again, but the ebb and flow nature of the contest saw Rams hit back again as skipper Robbie Stapley went over at the back of a maul for his fourth try in three games.
Birmingham took the lead for the fourth time, though, as the hosts were penalised at the breakdown and Lewis landed a 35-metre kick from in front of the uprights.
And despite a valiant rally from Rams towards the end, they could not fashion a final score as they fell to defeat to the Midlanders for the first time in four occasions.
By Richard Ashton
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