On a wet night and in front of a boisterous home crowd at the Coombe Dingle Sports Complex, it was the students who took an early lead, Rams failing to deal with the kick-off and their opponents going through the phases before crossing for an unconverted try.
Yet the Berkshire men settled into the contest and their physicality quickly came to the fore, the scrum and maul also powerful as No. 8 Max Brown levelled matters from close range before a Harris Rutherford conversion nudged them in front.
The visitors were temporarily reduced to 14 men as Tomek Pozniak was sin-binned, but they snuck back in front just before the break as fit-again Rowan Grundy – enjoying a fine performance at inside centre – dotted down for Rutherford to make it 14-10 at half-time.
Pereira, Rutherford take charge behind dominant pack
In tricky conditions Rams’ off-loading game was not able to fully hit the heights, but with the half-back combination of man-of-the-match Louis Pereira and Rutherford controlling things smartly, they pulled further clear as prop George Breese crossed the whitewash.
Rutherford added the extras before the Students – who have recently partnered up as a feeder for Premiership outfit Bristol Bears – also had to endure 10 minutes with 14 men.
And it was right at the end of this stanza Rams dealt a decisive blow, last season’s top Development XV try-scorer Harry Bicknell touching down.
Debutant Obi shines as forwards hold sway
Changes to the pack did little to diffuse the visitors’ scrum dominance as last year’s Colt, prop Obi Nwachuku, did well on his first senior start as part of a pack which won two scrums against the head and had their opponents under constant pressure.
Cardiff Met Uni summer signing Brown also caught the eye both starting in the back row before moving into the engine room, while Grundy’s replacement Jake Jackson – on only his second adult start – also performed tidily.
Young South African wing Luke Graham also showed much to like on his return from injury, and while it was Bristol who had the final word with a third unconverted try, Rams were deserved winners as the final 10 minutes proved scoreless.
The Development XV are next in action at home to Chinnor Under 23s on Wednesday, October 15 (7.45pm).
Rams travel to Sale FC on Saturday (2.30pm), before hosting Tonbridge Juddians on September 27.
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