DINGS' Director of Rugby Stean Williams was able to draw several positives from his sides' five-tries to one defeat against National League One high-flyers Rams, but admitted Dings came off second best in most departments.

He said: "I think we did okay in some areas and definitely improved as the game wore on as our combinations began to get familiar with each other. But Rams were more cohesive - a bit slicker. They were quicker, physically stronger and made the most of their opportunities. There's no doubt they were the better side, but we stayed in the game and were competitive for the most part. We created a few opportunities, but unlike Rams, we didn't finish enough chances off, which would have brought the scores closer together."

A combination of Dings' errors and Rams pressure meant the opening quarter took place in the homesides half. Crusaders couldn't get anything going ball-in-hand and their kicking game was returned with enthusiasm and accuracy. Rams wing Adam Porter opened the scoring in the corner to put the visitors five-points ahead. Ollie Cole was on hand to go over for Rams second try with Louis Ellis adding the extras. Dings had a spell of pressure on the Ram line but a superb turnover from flanker Tom Vooght got the off them hook.

Dings did improve after the turnaround and matched the visitors in the third quarter. A sustained attack was polished off by skipper Marcus Brooker, allowing fly-half Ben Bolster to knock over the extras from in front of the poles. But Rams found another gear to add three further tries - hooker Ollie Moffitt rumbled over from the back of a driving maul, full-back Joe Bridger skipped through the tiring Dings defence to touchdown under the posts, and former Clifton and Worthing Raiders' scrum-half Sam Boyland rubbed salt into the wound by nipping in to intercept a loose pass and sprint in from 65-metres. Replacement Jack Gapper added two conversions to take Rams past the 30-point mark.