SEASON SO FAR: DEVELOPMENT XV

RAMS Development have enjoyed a faultless record to date with the next generation repeatedly showing their straps under the midweek floodlights.

Things began well on a wet and windy night with a 26-15 triumph at Bristol University, a maul try and one from Rowan Grundy, both converted by Harris Rutherford, giving the visitors a 14-10 half-time advantage.

With the pack increasingly getting on top in the second period, George Breese went over, Rutherford on target, before Harry Bicknell sealed the deal.

Plenty of points against Army and Chinnor

Max Brown, Tomek Pozniak and Bicknell were both at the double in an impressive 57-21 success at British Army Under 23s a fortnight later.

The trio all crossed to build an early 19-0 lead before the Red Shirts grabbed two converted scores, maul tries from Archie Downing and Brown re-establishing Rams’ dominance as Rutherford added another kick.

The Scot repeated the trick after Oli Rhoads touched down just before the break, and was again on target as Pozniak completed his brace for 45-14 early in the second period.

A massive maul was finished by Bicknell before Theo Pett-Ridge went over, both converted, before Army claimed a consolation late on.

It was three wins from three following a 64-31 home victory against Chinnor as Rhoads grabbed a brilliant hat-trick.

Andrew Lamb converted an early Liam Elston try before Pete Austin and Pozniak extended the advantage, a Chinnor seven-pointer reducing the deficit to 17-7.

Lamb was on target as Max Marshall burrowed over before the break, and he repeated the trick as Rhoads dotted down.

Two quick-fire Chinnor tries made it 31-19, but an Olly Marsh interception effort gave Rams some breathing room.

The visitors, however, refused to yield, and scored a converted try for a 10-point game.

But Marshall collected a second and Ollie Hodgson also went over, two James Gilman kicks ensuring the half-century was reached.

Rhoads doubled up before Chinnor grabbed their fifth, but it was the former who completed his hat-trick on an entertaining evening.

Air Force beaten before stunning comeback at Cambridge

A ruthless final-quarter burst then helped the Development XV overcome the Royal Air Force 47-17.

Having fallen behind, Rams responded with Brown and Bicknell scoring from mauls as Lamb added a conversion.

The RAF scored a second try to make it 12-10 at the interval, and despite Elston reaching over for a seven-pointer, the visitors replied in kind for 19-17 after an hour.

But Rams ran riot late on, Sam Bowen, Barney Thomas, Alex Mannhardt and Bicknell all crossing the whitewash.

It took a stunning second-half comeback to help Rams make it five from five as they toppled hosts Cambridge University 36-33 at Grange Road.

Trailing 12-0, Pozniak cut the gap, but the Light Blues went over twice more for 26-5 at half-time.

Yet the Rams’ scrum began to take control and the Berkshire men took the lead after Hodgson, Pozniak, Sam Boxhall, Gilman and Lamb all contributed to 31 unanswered points.

The Students grabbed a last-play consolation, but it was not enough to prevent another Rams success.

The Development XV are next in action at Chinnor Under 23s on Wednesday, January 14 (7.45pm).

They then visit Oxford University on Friday, February 13 (7.45pm).

A home game against Royal Navy follows five days later (7.45pm) before a trip to Aldershot to take on British Army (7.45pm).

Two home games are scheduled for March as Cambridge 1923s (Wednesday 11) and RAF (25, 7.30pm) head to OBR.