SEVEN-TRY Rams won a barnstorming derby 46-30 at Chinnor to make it back-to-back bonus-point successes at the start of the National One season.

Following an impeccably observed minute’s silence for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Chinnor came out of the blocks stronger and two Tom Price penalties edged them 6-0 up.

However, the visitors hit back with their first trip to the opposition 22, Ant Marris burrowing over from close range before Alex Seers added the extras.

Rams’ discipline was still questionable, though, and a third Price kick pushed his side back in front.

Yet the away side were beginning to get on top in the pack with their maul proving particularly effective, and a second try came courtesy of James McRae after James Baker was stopped just short of the line.

Things got even better shortly afterwards as Max Hayman crashed over at the back of another powerful surge, Seers on target, and the bonus-point was secured before the break as the evergreen Baker blasted over for his first try in almost three years.

Chinnor had also seen second row James Down sin binned for a dangerous tackle, but they rallied and grabbed a first try of their own – shortly after Connor Stapley had also been carded for Rams – when Mark Darlington touched down at the back of their own set-piece.

Price converted for a half-time score of 24-16, but it was the visitors who came out superbly at the start of the second period, Jak Rossiter brilliantly finishing on the right.

A Seers penalty made it a three-score game at 32-16, but Chinnor were not daunted and hauled themselves back into things as replacement hooker Reece Marshall crossed from yet another maul.

The imperious Price reduced the deficit to nine points, but Rams struck with what seemed a huge moment, Ellis Jones pulling off an interception before off-loading for Rossiter to run in from some 40 metres out.

With Seers making no mistake the advantage was back to 16 points, but again Chinnor stuck to their guns and kept the game alive when wing Dean Hammond crossed on the left, Price with the conversion.

At this stage 13 minutes remained, but Rams defended manfully and ultimately landed a fatal blow right at the death.

Having won a succession of scrum penalties, they retained possession effectively before the outstanding Hayman smashed his way over from close range for his second score of the evening and third of the campaign to date.

Seers applied the coup de grace with the conversion before full time was blown at the end of what was yet again an outstanding advert for National One rugby.