RAMS picked up two bonus-points from their 25-22 loss at Sale FC, a see-saw encounter seeing them 19-0 down as Joe Green, Alfie Longstaff and Tom Walsh touched down, James Robins adding a couple of conversions.
Andrew Lamb crossed before the break to start the comeback, and the Berkshire boys flew out of the blocks at the start of the second period.
Morgan MacRae was first to dot down, swiftly followed by sniping scrum-half Ollie Cole before substitute Solodrau Radianirova made an immediate impact.
Fraser Honey landed a superb touchline conversion for 22-19, but two Robins penalties and some dogged defence ensured Sale took the spoils.
Stortford too strong at OBR
Worse was to follow a week later as Rams were beaten 34-25 by Bishop’s Stortford at Old Bath Road.
Rowan Grundy opened the scoring for the hosts, but two maul tries from Isaac Bell and Will Rogers were converted by Mike Cooke for 14-5.
Stortford were reduced to 12 men at one stage as their opponents regained the lead through Zach Clow and Lamb tries, only for a long-range Tom Mills penalty to nudge the visitors two points in front by the interval.
Rams made a dream start to the second half with Axel Kalling-Smith’s converted try, but two Bishop’s scores in five minutes from Mills and Chris Smith, the latter added to by Cooke, had the Hertfordshire side 29-22 up.
A Honey penalty cut the gap, but another maul try, this time from Alex Rayment, completed a first victory in eight games against Rams.
Worse to follow in Birmingham
Having been knocked off top spot, things got worse for Seb Reynolds’ charges as they were nilled for the first time in more than 15 years in a 19-0 setback at Birmingham Moseley.
On a grim afternoon weather-wise, Ryan Roach crossed from the set-piece for the hosts before the break, converted second-half scores from Will Safe and Aquile Smith completing the job.
