A week off and a slow start saw Rams crash to a 36-29 defeat despite a brave fightback at Bishop’s Stortford.
The visitors made a fast start as Morgan MacRae continued his try-scoring hot streak, Mike Cooke with the extras.
But Stortford moved 14-7 up as Finn Keylock converted tries from Alex Gilham and Frazier Kiff.
A penalty try for Rams levelled matters before their opponents pulled clear either side of the interval.
Jake Morris and Isaac Bell went over before the break, Keylock converting the latter for 26-14.
And when he repeated the trick following man-of-the-match Tom Hitchcock’s effort it was 33-14.
Rams rallied impressively, though, Andrew Lamb and Pete Austin dotting down.
Keylock landed a long-range penalty, however, meaning Oli Rhoads’ final-play score was only enough for a brace of bonus-points.
Rhoads treble can’t deny Plymouth
Oli Rhoads became just the sixth Ram to score a National League hat-trick as his side went down 34-15 at home to Plymouth Albion.
The wing put the hosts in front before Frankie Dart cut the gap with a penalty.
A Shea Cornish try made it 8-5 to Plymouth, and they extended their advantage when scintillating fly-half Iwan Jenkins produced two individual moment of magic either side of the break.
His two tries were added to by Dart for 22-5.
Joel Broadhurst was next to cross for the Devonians, but Rams had a glimmer of hope when Rhoads doubled his tally.
Cornish, however, did the same, meaning a third score for Rhoads was merely a late consolation.
Four-try Hayman tames Lions
Rams snapped a three-match losing run at Leicester Lions on a bizarre afternoon at the back of the month.
With the main pitch waterlogged, the two sides were shunted onto a tiny back venue.
But the visitors rallied and took the lead as Rhoads raced in with a marvellous 40-metre effort.
Cooke added the extras before Luke Bouchier repeated the trick following Bronson Mellowes’ score. 7-7.
The Rams’ maul was proving powerful, however and captain Max Hayman dotted down to restore the lead.
A Bouchier penalty reduced the arrears to 12-10, but two more Hayman maul tries, both brilliantly converted by Cooke, created a healthy lead.
The skipper then switched to No. 8 before becoming the second Ram to score four in a National One game, Jak Rossiter the other.
A penalty try had Rams 38-10 up before Lions collected a couple of late consolations and bonus point.
Jake Sterland and Joe Plummer and the boot of Bouchier rounded out the scoring.
*Season tickets are now on sale with supporters able to save some 15 per cent on matchday prices by booking before August 23.
Earlier in the Year
