RAMS pulled off one of the shocks of the National One season as they ended Rosslyn Park’s 19-match unbeaten home streak with a deserved 17-13 success.
It was the away side who dominated the opening 10 minutes, nearly opening the scoring when Stevie Bryant was just unable to collect a clever chip towards the goal-line from fly-half Rowan Grundy.
However, they kept the pressure on and earned a succession of penalties on the edge of the Park 22, only to concede a turnover which allowed their opponents to clear their lines.
And they were made to pay shortly after as the hosts scored with their first real attack, a powerful rolling maul rumbling over the try line with Kyle Traynor applying the finishing touches on the left-hand side.
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Craig Holland’s attempted conversion proved unsuccessful, and Rams continued to enjoy the better of both territory and possession, albeit a number of attacking positions were off-set by Park stealing half-a-dozen line-outs.
Rams’ pressure was rewarded on 35 minutes, though, the outstanding Ollie Cole making a sniping break before feeding Grundy to dive over to the right of the posts.
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Grundy was unable to add the extras, however, and Park took a somewhat fortunate lead into the break when Holland landed a straight-forward kick from in front of the posts with the last action of the half.
Rosslyn Park came out of the blocks strongly after the interval and went close to crossing on the left through full-back Henry Robinson, albeit the play was subsequently brought back for a Rams’ penalty on their own 22.
The visitors responded superbly, though, and worked their way up-field before launching their own maul towards the line.
This was initially brought down illegally, and despite Park conceding three further penalties as the play went on, the ball eventually made its way to Henry Bird to cross on the right for his eighth try of the season.
Grundy’s attempted conversion failed as the gusting wind blew the ball off the tee, but Rams kept coming at the leaders relentlessly and eventually made a decisive move with a penalty try earned at a scrum they were dominant in all afternoon.
Initially winning a penalty on the Park put-in, two more huge shoves on the five-metre line left referee Hamish Grant with no option but to award the away side seven points.
Rosslyn Park rallied, however, and kept their hopes of maintaining the unbeaten streak alive when Piper dived over from close range following another strong maul and a number of efforts from close range.
Yet Rams were not to be denied and sealed victory when indomitable flanker Tom Vooght bundled Saracens loanee Brandon Jackson into touch on the halfway line.
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By Richard Ashton
