MATCH REPORT: WINGS DOUBLE UP IN BONUS-POINT HOME SUCCESS

RAMS recorded back-to-back National One home wins with a 27-7 triumph against Bury St Edmunds.

After an error and penalty-strewn opening 10 minutes Rams took the lead as man-of-the-match Darren Atkins fizzed a long pass for Axel Kalling-Smith to cross on the right.

Ross McKay’s conversion effort drifted wide left, but the fly-half then bombed a phenomenal 50/22 to give the hosts field position.

A huge maul followed before Atkins again set Kalling-Smith away for a 48th try on his 99th appearance.

The visitors got on the board early in the second quarter after a spell of sustained pressure, No. 8 Ruaridh Williams powering over before Ben Penfold added the extras.

There was little of note in the rest of the first half, bar a Mikey Duda break which nearly sent Liam Saayman away from 40 metres out.

The second row, though was hauled down.

Rams therefore led 10-7 at the break, before a stagnant third stanza ended with flanker Duda yellow carded as the hosts’ penalty count hit 17.

Yet the Berkshire boys made light of their numerical disadvantage as scrum-half Matt Wickham sent fit-again Zach Clow over on the left.

And after Tim Andrew was sin-binned for a high shot on Pete Austin, Atkins provided his third assist as Clow doubled up.

It was a 52nd score for the wing, meaning Clow and Kalling-Smith now have a combined ton.

McKay landed a superb touchline nudge before captain Willo Bicknell added an extra gloss to the scoreline with two minutes remaining.

Rams climb to ninth in the table ahead of a trip to unbeaten second-placed Tonbridge Juddians next Saturday (3pm).

Following a week off, they then host Leeds Tykes on Saturday, October 31.

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Final Score: Rams 27–7 Bury St Edmunds

Scorers

Rams

Tries: Kalling-Smith 14, 17 Clow 64, 70 Bicknell 78

Conversions: McKay 71

Bury St Edmunds

Tries: Williams 23

Conversions: Penfold 24

Star Man: Darren Atkins (Rams)

Referee: Jack Moorhouse

Attendance: 630

Rams

(15-9, 1-8) D Atkins, Clow, Blee, Jones, Kalling-Smith, McKay, Wickham; Harris, Austin, Lomas, Cozens, Saayman, B Atkins, Duda, W Bicknell ©

Replacements: Marris, Stirling, Ridgway, Pett-Ridge, McDonald

Bury St Edmunds

(15-9, 1-8) Loose, Reid, Hema, Kharbouch, Andrew, Penfold, Goode; Hill, Jones, Cooper (cc), Sams, Bedford, Grigg-Pettitt (cc), Riches, Williams

Replacements: Hicks, Cilia, Robinson, Macfarlane, Ashdown