JAMES McRae scored a memorable hat-trick as Rams sent club legend Robbie Stapley into retirement with a pulsating 49-40 home victory against Rosslyn Park.

The No. 8 cut a sublime line to open the scoring, Fraser Honey with the extras, before Park prop Matt Woodward benefitted from a hint of obstruction to reply under the posts.

Josh Bragman levelled things, but Rams regained the lead with a brilliant score, Zach Clow sending Tomek Pozniak for the finish.

Honey knocked over the extras before Dan Swain pushed the hosts further in front, McRae’s delicate side-step freeing the second row to cross for another converted try.

Park refused to yield, however, and scrum-half Ewan Fenley rounded out a slick move before Bragman’s kick cut the deficit to seven.

Jack Rampton nearly bagged the try bonus-point for the hosts before being brought down following a scything break, but Rams started the second half fast as McRae doubled up from 25 metres out, Honey maintaining his perfect record.

Rosslyn again refused to go away, however, as Charlie Walker hacked forward a delicate Bragman grubber kick before throwing a dummy to dot down, another successful kick making it 28-21.

The visitors lost centre Tom Stanton to the sin-bin following a deliberate knock-on in midfield, and after Rampton had a try disallowed for a Clow forward pass, McRae completed his treble with a pick-and-go from the back of a scrum.

Another conversion was replied to by Rosslyn as James Corden-Reddy broke the line to send Jasper Cameron over, Bragman continuing his perfect record, before Stapley departed on 65 minutes.

Incredibly his replacement Swain scored almost immediately in clubhouse corner, only for two tries in as many minutes from Bragman and Walker to set-up a grandstand final five minutes.

Bragman’s first miss of the afternoon left Rams two points in front, and they sealed the deal with Mikey Duda burrowing over from close range following a wonderful Max Hayman off-load, a missed last-play penalty denying the visitors a losing bonus.

Rams have a week off before visiting Darlington Mowden Park for the final game of the season on Saturday, April 26 (3pm).

Final Score: Rams Rosslyn Park (Half Time: 21-14)

Scorers

Rams

Tries: McRae 6, 41, 57, Pozniak 22, Swain 29, 66, Duda 75

Conversions: Honey 7, 23, 30, 42, 58, 67, 76

Rosslyn Park

Tries: Woodward 16, Fenley 32, Walker 49, 72, Cameron 59, Bragman 70

Conversions: Bragman 17, 33, 50, 60, 71

Star Man: James McRae (Rams)

Referee: Adam Wookey

Attendance: 1,237