DELIGHTED Rams Director of Rugby Seb Reynolds hailed his side’s controlled display as they overcame Esher 38-21 on the opening day of the National One season.
The hosts raced into a 21-0 lead on the back of tries from Axel Kalling-Smith, Henry Bird and Charlie Robson, Alex Seers adding the extras to all three.
A Ben Robbins try converted by Sam Morley reduced the deficit, but Rams wrapped up the bonus-point before the break as Max Hayman went over at the back of a maul, Seers slotting the kick for 28-7.
Man-of-the-match Seers converted his own try early in the second half, but Esher rallied and after Hayman was yellow carded, they were awarded a penalty try when Kalling-Smith was deemed to be off-side and preventing a scoring opportunity.
The Swedish international was also sent to the bin, and when Robbins doubled his tally, Morley again on target, the game was alive at 35-21.
Yet Rams snuffed out the danger, Seers landing a penalty to seal the win.
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Reflecting on the contest, Reynolds said: “It was a really entertaining game to start the season. We were very controlled in the early stages when Esher looked really dangerous and played some good rugby.
“They got their fly-half into the game and challenged us out wide, but to go 21-0 up was what we wanted.”
The tries from Axel and Charlie were both spectacular in their own way, the former smashing his way through three would-be tacklers before his fellow wing danced his way through from 25 metres out.
And the DoR revealed: “Both of them showed the way they score their tries – I don’t quite know how they did it, but it was the reason we picked them and they delivered.”
Having built up the 35-7 lead, Esher hit back and Reynolds praised the visitors’ efforts, while also lauding his own side’s performance.
He said: “They kept playing some really good stuff, but when we went down to 13 men I thought we controlled that passage really well.
“It’s hard to defend then, but I thought we wrestled back control and it was a good decision to take the three points and the sting out of the game, and then we finished it well.”
The returning Seers – back after the best part of three years on the injury list – was outstanding, while debutant Dan Swain also showed up well, and Seb ended: “It was a really strong performance from Alex – he’ll be pleased, but he’ll also know along with the whole side there are things to work on.
It was a really solid, physical, all-round performance by Dan and what we hoped he’d produce when we selected him. I thought he grew into the game, got better and better and we’re excited for his future with us.”
Rams head to Chinnor under the Friday night lights this week (7.45pm).
By Richard Ashton
