RAMS sent the National One title race to the wire with a brilliant 38-28 success against Cinderford, defying four yellow cards to seal a 12th home win of the campaign in front of a record crowd of 1,284.

The hosts made a perfect start as James McRae burrowed over from close range following a maul, man-of-the-match Drew Humberstone making no mistake with the conversion.

Things got even better with a trademark Rams’ counter-attack, Zach Clow beating a couple of men inside his own 22 before kicking ahead. A turnover and a couple of phases later, Ollie Cole touched down on the right to celebrate his 100th appearance in style.

Clow blotted his copy book with a yellow card following a minor scuffle, but Axel Kalling-Smith then added another try to his highlight reel with a 95-metre break from on his own line.

A marvellous kick from Humberstone made it 19-0, but Cinderford began to assert themselves and it took a wonderful cover tackle from the returning Clow to keep Mason Tonks out.

However, the visitors got on the board as Nathan Taylor rumbled over at the back of a maul, Mikey Austin with the extras, and Rams then suffered a second yellow as Dan Swain failed to roll away at the breakdown.

Cinderford made their man advantage pay as George Porter powered over from close range, another Austin kick making it 19-14 at the break.
The visitors continued to turn the screw at the start of the second period, and Max Hayman was carded for a dangerous tackle.

However, a pivotal moment came as Rams secured a turnover on their own line, then another after McRae kicked deep, and a flowing move ended with Kalling-Smith doubling his tally on the right.

The home side moved further ahead when replacement scrum-half Ollie Monye darted over with his first touch of the ball, Humberstone converting, and the game was pretty much put to bed as Connor Stapley crossed following a spell of sustained pressure.

Humberstone’s conversion pushed his side 38-14 in front, and despite Taylor grabbing a second after Henry Bird was sin-binned, and Mike Wilcox going over with the final play, it was too little, too late for the Foresters.

Rams remain top with a game to go, Sale a point behind but with Cambridge favourites for the title five back with a game in hand, and Director of Rugby, Seb Reynolds, said: “We owed it to ourselves and the supporters to put in a performance and I’m delighted we did.

“This level is the best advert for rugby – there are meaningful matches all the way through involving fantastic players, and whatever happens, it has been a magnificent season.”

Full-time score: 38-28

Half-time score: 19-14

Scorers

Rams

Tries: McRae 4, Cole 11, Kalling-Smith 24, 50, Monye 58, C Stapley 63

Conversions: Humberstone 5, 25, 59, 64

Cinderford

Tries: Taylor 32, 76, Porter 39, Wilcox 80

Conversions: Austin 33, 40, 77, 80

Star player: Drew Humberstone (Rams)

Referee: Dan Rowlands

Attendance: 1,284

Rams

(15-9, 1-8) Bird, Kalling-Smith, Jones, Humberstone, Clow, Grundy, Cole; Harris, Hayman, Baker, C Stapley, Swain, Collis, McRae, R Stapley ©

Substitutes: Moffitt, Marris, Englezos, Everitt, Monye.

Cinderford

(15-9, 1-8) Dunn, Baldwin, Forrester, Boulton, Tonks, Wilcox, Austin; Porter, Taylor, Knight, Hodge, Jerrum, Lane, Mullis, Hone ©
Substitutes: Edwards, Brockett, Holliday, Haly, Williams