MATCH REPORT: DEVELOPMENT XV TURN ON THE STYLE

RAMS Development XV combined pack power with some terrific three-quarters inter-play to beat Army Under 23s 57-21 in Aldershot.

The visitors made a blistering start with a series of hard carries, Liam Elston then providing a sublime back-of-the-hand off-load to send Max Brown over next  to the posts.

Harris Rutherford knocked over the extras, and from the restart Will Burrows sent Tomek Pozniak racing in from 65 metres out for another converted score.

Rams led 14-0 inside four minutes, and there was little let-up as they extended their advantage midway through the first quarter, prolific hooker Harry Bicknell riding a maul over.

Army hit back with quick-fire double

The Red Shirts replied, however, a quality snipe from scrum-half Harry Johnson sending Semi Seravakula swan diving under the posts for a score added to by Mo Waqanidrola.

Some magnificent footwork from Seravakula saw the centre double his tally soon after, the conversion again landed, but Rams reasserted themselves quickly with two quick-fire set-piece tries.

Firstly, prop Archie Downing went careering across the whitewash, and Brown then went over in carbon copy fashion as Rutherford added to the latter for 31-14.

There was still time for a sixth away try of the opening 40 minutes, Rams benefiting from a charged down kick just outside their opponents’ 22 before spreading the ball wide for Oli Rhoads to cross on the right.

Rams turn the screw after the break

Rutherford was again on target, and the visitors began the second half in fine fashion with their best try of the night, Ollie Hodgson making the initial break before freeing Sam Bowen down the left, his inside ball sending fellow wing Pozniak over for his second of the night.

The conversion was again landed, and Rams reached their half century with their biggest maul of the evening, a 20-metre effort finished as Bicknell peeled off the back for another seven-pointer.

Isaac Tokura was sin-binned for a high tackle midway through the final quarter, but it did not stop his side extending their lead with another pearler, Theo Pett-Ridge racing down the wing before off-loading to Bowen for a try his performance deserved.

It was Army, though, who had the final word, a gutsy display ending with Jude Hands-Baker fly-hacking a loose ball in midfield forward before collecting to touch down under the posts.

Rams Development next host Chinnor at Old Bath Road on Wednesday, October 15 (7.45pm).