BEATEN yet unbowed – and possibly a turning point in the season.
Rams lost 35-21 at unbeaten National One table-toppers Plymouth Albion, but from 21-0 down and with a man in the sin-bin after eight minutes, the visitors showed immense character to hint at brighter times ahead.
Things could not have started worse.
Ross McKay’s opening kick-off went straight out, and from the resultant scrum a slip in midfield allowed Iwan Jenkins to stroll in from 50 metres.
The fly-half added the extras and things took another turn south a couple of minutes later as Albion charged down a kick in midfield.
The ball was swiftly sent left for electric wing Noah Fenton to race 65 metres, and while he was stopped just short, Jarrad Hayler was on hand to finish the job.
The extras followed before incredibly things got even worse as Dan Swain was sin-binned for taking a player in the air from the restart.
Another penalty gave Plymouth field position, and while Rams stopped the maul, Jenkins’ cross-field kick gave Oscar Stewart a simple finish.
Jenkins converted, but despite being a man down, the visitors came into the contest.
Rams stop the rot before the break
They wasted a golden chance when tapping a five-metre penalty rather than going to the corner, and suffered a further setback when Ryan Cozens was forced off.
Plymouth then thought they had secured the bonus-point with a maul try, only for it to be chalked off for a knock-on.
The did, however, pick up their fourth try two minutes into the second half.
A scrum penalty allowed a kick to the corner, and soon after Jake Clemson burrowed over from close range for a converted try.
But Rams then got off the mark, patient phase play ending with McKay pinging a kick to Henry Kirwan for a score on the right.
Austin at the double in strong finish
Stand-off McKay lasered a superb touchline nudge through the uprights, only for Albion to finish a slick move through Fenton.
Jenkins extended the lead, but Hayler was then sin-binned for a cynical foul near the line.
Rams then had a try disallowed after Pete Austin grounded from a maul, but his side had been told to use the ball before hand.
But the hooker grabbed his score midway through the final quarter, Plymouth overthrowing a five-metre line-out after Zach Clow was denied due to a foot in touch.
And with the hosts again reduced to 14, Morgan Eames carded for a breakdown infringement, Austin doubled up from a maul before McKay’s conversion ended proceedings.
Rams will look to build on their efforts at home to Camborne next Saturday (3pm).
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