RAMS RFC head into the Christmas break sitting eighth in the National One table after their Friday Night lights game against Chinnor was postponed due to a Covid outbreak in the visitors’ ranks.
In what has been an up-and-down campaign to date, Seb Reynolds’ side started the season with a six-try blitz and 34-28 victory at Cambridge as Tom Vooght bagged a brace and Jamie Guttridge, Connor Hayhow, Kieran Leicester and Henry Bird all touched down to secure a bonus-point success.
They followed up with another four-try triumph at home to Tonbridge Juddians, a penalty try and further scores from Ben Henderson and Ollie Cole putting the hosts 19-6 up at half-time, before Hayhow’s second in as many weeks helped wrap up a 24-13 win.
Week Three saw Rams make their maiden trip to Plymouth Albion, eventually coming away with a 26-19 win in front of a passionate home crowd.
Bird, Ollie Moffitt, Ellis Jones and Connor Stapley were the try-scorers, but the visitors had to withstand a late rally from Albion.
A perfect start to the season continued with a fourth consecutive bonus-point success as Leeds Tykes went down 29-11 at Old Bath Road.
Vooght was again at the double and Bird, Ollie Taylor and Cole also touched down to temporarily take Rams to the top-of-the-table at the end of September.
The early-season form was recognised as the RFU named the side ‘Team of the Month’ for Levels Three and Four, but that proved something of a curse as the unbeaten run came to a halt with an 18-17 defeat from the last play of the game at Taunton Titans.
On a miserable afternoon, things had started well for the visitors with two Jones scores helping his side move 17-3 up early in the second half, but Titans hit back and ultimately snatched the win with Gary Kingdom’s penalty proving the last action of the match.
Rams rallied, however, and in the highlight of the season to date, downed Rosslyn Park 24-21 in front of almost 1,000 fans at OBR.
A breath-taking opening 40 minutes saw the hosts go into the break 24-0 up with Bird having touched down twice and Guttridge also on the scoresheet, and despite a brave comeback from Park, Rams held on.
They made it six wins from seven with a battling 21-19 triumph at Bishop’s Stortford the week after, Jak Rossiter grabbing an interception score on his first start of the season before a penalty try and Robbie Stapley effort just got the visitors over the line.
Vooght grabbed his fifth and sixth tries of the season at Darlington Mowden Park, but despite Moffitt and Max Hayman both also crossing, the hosts ran out 29-23 winners.
And another defeat followed in Week Nine, Sale inflicting a 32-21 defeat on the hosts despite Hayman’s brace and Rossiter’s fine finish.
Rams returned to winning ways with a dramatic 22-20 home success against high-flying Cinderford following a three-week break to get their campaign back on track.
After Humberstone and Liam Hemming had exchanged penalties, Rams hit the front when Ollie Taylor crossed, only for tries from George Porter and Nathan Taylor to give the Foresters a 13-8 half-time lead.
Yet Bird went over for a converted score before Rams bagged a penalty try from the scrum, and despite Taylor’s second, added to by Hemming, the hosts held on for victory.
However, after their trip to Birmingham Moseley was postponed because of snow, Rams suffered a disappointing 17-13 home loss to Blackheath.
A Freddie Gabbitass penalty put the visitors in front, but a Guttridge try and five points from Humberstone’s boot steadied the ship.
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Gabbitass converted an Ollie Claxton try to level, but another Humberstone penalty made it 13-10 at the break.
However, it was Club who took the spoils as Gabbitass’ conversion of Jake Lloyd’s try proved the only points of the second period.
Lastly, Rams’ 152-match try-scoring streak ended with a 20-3 reverse at in-form Caldy.
Humberstone and Ben Jones exchanged penalties to leave the teams locked at 3-3 at the break, but tries from Jack Parker and Joe Sanders, added to by seven points from the boot of Jones, sealed the win for the Ravers.
All this leaves Rams with 36 points from their 12 games – meaning they have two in hand on most sides above them in the table – ahead of a trip to bottom side Tonbridge Juddians when play hopefully resumes on Saturday, January 8.
By Richard Ashton
