CONNOR Hayhow grabbed his second hat-trick of the season as Rams produced a magnificent end-of-season display to thump fourth-placed Cambridge 45-7 at Old Bath Road.
The inside centre opened the scoring with an interception try converted by Steffan James in the 12th minute, the hosts doubling their lead shortly afterwards as Ben Henderson’s sublime grubber kick was hoovered up by Henry Bird to touch down on the left.
It was a 14th try of the campaign for the wing, and with James adding the extras, Rams led 14-0 at the break.
Skipper Tom Vooght ensured he ends the campaign level with Bird after scoring a trademark close-range effort a minute into the second period, fly-half James again on target for 21-0.
The bonus-point was then wrapped up four minutes later as Hayhow grabbed his second, scything through from some 45 metres out before James slotted the kick.
Replacement scrum-half Darryl Veenendaal signed off his first-team career by getting Cambridge on the board, Joe Tarrant with the conversion, but Rams nudged themselves further in front when James maintained his perfect record with a penalty.
The home side effectively put the game to bed as Ollie Monye grabbed his first Rams’ try, intercepting an inside ball before darting across the whitewash under the posts, and after James was again successful from the tee, Hayhow added gloss to the score-line with another mid-range score, the hat-trick hero picking up a loose ball before strolling in.
Bird drop-kicked the conversion with the final play to send the home supporters away happy.
Rams: Dykes, Rossiter, Hayhow, Humberstone Bird, James, Cole; Marris, Henderson, Englezos, Taylor, Schroter, Everitt, Vooght ©, McRae
Substitutes: Hayman, Lomas, Crame, Bryant, Monye
Cambridge: Tarrant, Green, Wand, Hema, Henderson, Rayner, Duffin; Morley, Brownlie, Walker, Frost, Baxter, Bretag-Norris ©, McCloud, Adams.
Substitutes: Lewis, Peck, Maka, Veenendaal, Asiedu.
Tries: Hayhow 12, 45, 80, Bird 16, Vooght 41, Monye 71
Conversions: James 13, 17, 42, 46, 72, Bird 80
By Richard Ashton
