RAMS put up a valiant fight but ultimately went down 47-24 at National One champions Richmond under the Friday Night Lights at the RAG.
Things started perfectly for the visitors as James Baker burrowed over, Fraser Honey with the extras, ‘Mond levelling as Callum Grieve was on target after Jimmy Litchfield touched down.
A Honey penalty nudged the away side back in front, but the Londoners pulled clear via two converted Will Goffey maul tries and another seven-pointer from Lucas Schmid.
Two more from Schmid and the boot of Grieve made it 42-10, but Rams kept fighting and Jack Rampton went over before Honey added the extras.
Richmond responded through Xavier Hastings, but it was the Berkshire men who had the final word, collecting a bonus-point, thanks to Ollie Hodgson’s third try in as many games.
Rosslyn downed in high-scoring classic
James McRae scored a sensational hat-trick in his Old Bath Road swansong as Rams downed Rosslyn Park 49-40 in an epic.
The No. 8 opened the scoring in the sixth minute, Honey with the extras, but Park levelled via Matt Woodward and Josh Bragman.
Honey knocked over conversions after Tomek Pozniak and Dan Swain crossed for 21-7,but Bragman was again on target to cut the half-time deficit to seven after Ewan Fenley went over.
McRae doubled up and Honey maintained his perfect record before Charlie Walker’s converted try reduced the deficit again.
A pick-and-go from the back of a five-metre scrum completed McRae’s treble, only for a Jasper Cameron seven-pointer to keep Rosslyn in the game at 35-28.
Swain’s second, again added to by Honey, kept the visitors at arms’ length, only for two tries in three minutes from Bragman and Walker to reduce the deficit to 42-40 before Mikey Duda landed the decisive blow.
Campaign ends on a high up north
Rams ended the season with a 54-24 triumph at Darlington Mowden Park, Zach Clow and Ben Atkins both at the double.
The hosts took the lead against the run of play as Garry Law added to a Will Jones effort, their opponents equalising through Tom Vooght and a fine Andrew Lamb kick.
Clow and Joe Pannese got in on the act, dead-eye Lamb making it 21-7 before Charlie Smith replied for DMP.
Morgan MacRae secured the bonus-point for Rams at the back of a maul, but Dylan Thompson crashed over before the break to keep DMP hopes alive at 28-17.
Rams, though, put on the after-burners following the break, Atkins (two), Axel Kalling-Smith and Clow extending the advantage before DMP had the last word with a stunning solo score from Ethan Lyon-Hall.
