RETURNING Rams captain Max Hayman bagged a brace as the hosts held off a late Camborne rally to secure a superb 35-31 National One win.
The Berkshire boys made a disastrous start as they conceded after just 52 seconds, a charge-down in midfield spread left for Frankie Nowell to finish.
Ex-Ram Fraser Honey landed a fine touchline conversion, but the home side replied swiftly.
They firstly won a scrum penalty before kicking to the 22, and following Liam Saayman’s half break, the excellent Aaron Tull snuck over from close range.
Ross McKay added the extras, but a succession of Rams errors and penalties precipitated a converted Ben Priddey maul try which nudged Town 14-7 up at the end of the first quarter.
Henry Kirwan was unable to collect with the line at his mercy, but with four Camborne high tackles in the build-up, the hosts went back to the corner.
Hosts hit the front before the break
And this time it was Hayman who crossed, McKay equalising.
Rams then hit the front soon after as Connor Burns sliced through from close range following waves and waves of pressure, Matt Blee with a well-timed pass.
It was the full back’s first try for the hosts as he produced another composed performance.
Hayman repeated his set-piece trick on 33 minutes, and with McKay slotting two more conversions, the hosts led by 14 at the interval.
Things got worse for Camborne early in the second half, Jack Andrew yellow carded for a high tackle.
But Willo Bicknell then suffered the same fate midway through the third quarter.
Rams seemed to have the game safe less than a quarter of an hour remaining, Hayman making the initial yards before the ball was swung right for Kirwan to finish smartly in Clubhouse Corner.
McKay made it five from five, but the crowd were on tenterhooks by the end.
Firstly, Saayman was sin-binned for a shot to the head, and Camborne then earned a penalty try from a surging maul.
Alex Ridgway was also yellow carded to leave the hosts down to 13.
And things got worse as Camborne then went the length before Sam Matavesi went over.
Crucially, though, Honey rushed a routine conversion to pull it left, leaving the score 35-26 with four minutes to play.
And while Matavesi doubled up, it was from the final play as Rams celebrated a first win in four games.
Victory lifts Rams to 10th ahead of a trip to Sheffield next Saturday (3pm).
The next home game is Friday Night Lights on December 4 (7.45pm). For tickets and dinner, click here
Final Score: Rams 35-31 Camborne (Half-time: 28-14)
Scorers
Rams
Tries: Tull 6, Hayman 23, 33, Burns 28, Kirwan 66
Conversions: 7, 24, 29, 34, 67
Camborne
Tries:
Conversions:
Star Man: Matt Wickham (Rams)
Referee: George Ounsley
Attendance: 720
Rams
(15-9, 1-8) Burns, Kirwan, Blee, Tokura, Clow, McKay, Wickham; Marris*, Hayman* ©, Lomas, Swain, Saayman, Atkins, Tull, Bicknell
Replacements: Austin, Harris, Stirling, Ridgway, Mapletoft
Camborne
(15-9, 1-8) Roberts, Shepherd, Power, J Matavesi, Nowell, Honey, Roderick; Andrew, Priddey, Drew, Hughes, Sheppard, Elderkin, Nicholls, S Matavesi ©
Replacements: Davidson, Woodmansey, Bennetts, Boyce, Toogood
