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Rams make it four out of four

Rams make it four out of four

Steven Williams4 Oct 2014 - 17:41
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Bracknell make Rams work for their fourth win in a row of the new National 3 South West season

Redingensians Rams 27 Bracknell 3

Touchdowns for full back Joe Duffellen and No.8 Gus Davies along with a penalty try and the boot of scrum half James Brooks was enough for Rams to comfortably see off their county rivals at Reading RFC's Holme Park and to maintain their 100% start to their National League 3 South West season.
Having won all four of their opening matches it leaves them in third place three points behind unbeaten leaders Exmouth and one adrift of second placed Hornets both of whom have played one game more.
Rams, despite all of the disruptions caused by having to play their two home matches at other local clubs, can also boast the leagues best points difference having scored 175 to just 45 against.
With 80% of the first half played in the visitors half and who were down to 13 men through two yellow cards at one point Rams led 20-3 at half-time but were better tested by the visitors after the break and were reduced to just one try from their inspiring No.8 Gus Davies.
But as Rams skipper Andy Amor summed up at the end: “All of the guys worked really hard, they only scored three points against us and we scored some great tries and it was a fantastic result. The energy and the character from the side was terrific and we never looked in any doubt of losing the game. They never really stretched our line at all and it was complete composure from the boys and we did the business.”
But he added: “It was disappointing not to get that fourth try for the bonus point but it was great, being a derby match and to show we are the top side in Berkshire.”
Bracknell started lively enough with full back Stuart MacKay bundled into touch just short of the home sides line in the opening minute and from the ensuing play and the games first scrum the Rams front-row were penalised by referee Sara Cox for boring in.
Unfortunately for the visitors wing George Owen let his former Rams teammates off the hook sending his kick wide of the uprights.
Owen did, however, make amends in the 12th minute when centre Dave Massey, making a sound return to the Rams line-up having missed the previous Saturday, was penalised for preventing release at a ruck and Owen deftly slotted his kick to put his side 3-0 up.
As it turned out it was the only points the visitors were going to go away with as, almost immediately, Rams picked up a penalty at the other end when the visitors backs were caught offside and scrum half James Brooks thumped over a powerful 40 metre effort to level the score.
And Brooks was at it again just four minutes later when, this time, the visitors were penalised for not releasing and he sent another 40 plus metre effort sailing magnificently over from wide right.
Bracknell certainly were not helping their own cause as they then suffered from a bout of misdemeanour’s with first replacement Sam Paine, who had only just come on, yellow carded and followed, two minute later, by teammate and prop Ken Dowding.
But Rams couldn't take advantage to increase their score until the dying minutes of the half when, following huge pressure on the visitors line, the Bracknell pack were deemed to have deliberately collapsed a scrum to prevent Rams possession and referee Cox awarded a penalty try.
Brooks comfortably converted and was at it again, as the half drew to an end, following a good drive from the Rams pack. Hooker Ben Henderson, prop James Baker and Amor all driving powerfully before Massey picked up a loose ball to send full back Joe Duffellen screaming in under the posts and for Brooks to convert.
Leading 20-3 at half-time the home supporters were expecting the usual second half points deluge from their side that has been their trademark over recent games but it failed to materialise as the visitors upped their work-rate and thwarted the Rams at every step.
It finally took a great huge crossfield kick from wing Olly Foxley to spark Rams final try as the visitors defence coughed up ball and a Davies charge was held up on the Bracknell five meter line and Rams won a scrum.
This time Davies made no mistake, driving off the back of the set-piece, to smash his way over and bring out another smart conversion from Brooks.
And Davies could have had a second soon after but was held up over the line as Rams saw out the time and to safely maintain their unbeaten start to the 2014/15 season.
Next up it's a trip to Somerset this Saturday where they'll defend their unbeaten record against another of the leagues unbeaten teams Hornets. It's their first season ever at National 3 level and they've yet to be beaten in five outings.
Rams will then welcome Newton Abbott (Oct 18th) which will be their first game back at their Old Bath Road ground following the completion of work on their clubhouse extention.

Rams – Duffelen; Poole, Bryant, Massey, Foxley; Flower, Brooks; Weller, Henderson, Baker; Hughes, Bryson; Amor (c), Hopkins, Davies. Reps – Crame, Kruzycki, Mann.

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