The visitors fell 10-0 behind before cutting the deficit to 13-12 by half-time thanks to a penalty try and Max Hayman effort.
Axel Kalling-Smith crossed early in the second half, but it looked like an opening-day defeat until Zach Clow’s score was added to by Mike Cooke.
Morgan MacRae and Kalling-Smith were both at the double seven days later as Rams recorded their highest-ever Level Three total in a sensational 73-24 dismantling of Dings Crusaders.
Ben Atkins, Harry Stone, Charlie Robson, Clow, Hayman, Willo Bicknell and debutant Louis Pereira also dotted down on a stunning afternoon in which Cooke landed nine conversions.
The first setback of the season came in Round Three, however, the Berkshire boys failing to adapt to appalling conditions at Sale FC.
With biblical rain falling throughout at Heywood Road, a penalty try and five-pointers from Bicknell and MacRae not enough in a 31-17 reverse.
Four wins on the spin as Marris reaches century
A six-try 40-17 triumph versus Tonbridge Juddians got things back on track as MacRae and Luke Graham both bagged braces, Robson and Kalling-Smith also on the scoresheet as Cooke continued his fine form from the tee.
A hard-fought 19-7 victory at Leeds Tykes followed on Ant Marris’ 100th appearance, the scrum holding sway as MacRae, Clow and Hayman all touched down on an afternoon where the hosts had five players sin-binned.
Graham collected a second double of the season as Rams continued their fine start with a 31-28 home win against Birmingham Moseley.
Robson and Hayman also continued their fine form with Cooke landing 11 points with the boot.
It was six wins from seven following a bruising 21-14 away success at Clifton, Graham with the late match-winner after MacRae had taken his seasonal tally to eight with another brace.
Trio of defeats starts against Club
Clow’s early try gave Rams the perfect start against Blackheath, but the 13th-minute sending off of Robson proved pivotal in a 26-7 home reverse to end the first block of fixtures.
Seb Reynolds’ side then fell victim to a resurgent Bishop’s Stortford in a 36-29 reverse following the first break of the season.
MacRae was again at the double as Andrew Lamb, Pete Austin and a penalty try at least secured two bonus-points at Silver Leys.
Oli Rhoads scored a brilliant hat-trick seven days later, but it was not enough to deny a strong Plymouth Albion a 34-15 win at Old Bath Road.
The three-match losing streak was ended in bizarre fashion at Leicester Lions, Hayman scoring four as the game was moved to a back pitch with the main one waterlogged at Westleigh Park.
Rhoads continued his good work as another penalty try and three Cooke conversions completed the scoring.
A sterling second-half comeback was not quite enough as Rams slipped to a third straight home defeat to Rotherham Titans, the league leaders claiming the spoils 35-31.
An unbelievable Liam Elston solo try and a fifth in three games for Rhoads were not enough to prevent the hosts trailing 29-12 at the break, and despite further scores from Stone, Kalling-Smith and Clow, it was not quite enough.
Supreme at Rosslyn, less so at Dings – what next?
Yet the performance of the season came a week later in London, the visitors overturning an early 12-0 deficit to stun high-flying Rosslyn Park 40-29.
Clow’s sensational, try-scoring performance earned him the National One Player of the Week award, with Paddy Harris also touching down for the first time on his 57th appearance.
Cooke landed five conversions with the other tries coming from Rhoads, Rowan Grundy, Connor Stapley and debutant Henry Bartlett – the latter trio also bagging their maiden efforts of the campaign.
Rams, though, failed to back the performance up as a dreadful 12 minutes ended up in a 31-25 away loss at Dings.
Hayman gave the visitors an early lead before they collapsed to 26-5 behind, Ryan Lomas and Ellis Jones reducing the arrears before the break.
Hayman’s second made it a one-score game, but Dings went over meaning Bartlett’s try midway through the final quarter was merely a consolation.
All this means the club sit sixth in the table and 12 points adrift of leaders Rotherham, nine back from the play-off places.
With the National One season returning on Saturday at home to fifth-placed Sale – which Rams will turn up?!
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