Match Report by Cameron Temple
Photos Courtesy of Paul Clark S2S Photography

The Rams controlled the majority of the game, with captain Tom Vooght leading from the front with an impressive performance, as they maintained their lead at the top of the table.

Rams head coach, Seb Reynolds, was typically pleased as we spoke to him after the game, saying, “I’m very happy with the victory. Taunton are a terrific side and we spoke in the week about how they have some of the most dangerous weapons in this division, such as Sam prior who we knew we had to stop and Nicholas Mason in the centre. All in all I think we did a really good job today and our pack had a point to prove against them and we proved that.”

Taunton’s head coach was understandably more muted, but still content with his side’s performance as he said, “I thought it was a good game from a neutrals perspective. It was a very physical affair and both teams were really committed. Rams are a very good side and we knew it would be very difficult for us today, but I thought our guys stuck at it and we’re really proud of the efforts they made.”

The game began slowly, with the Rams making the first breakthrough after 11 minutes, as they found themselves camped in the Taunton 22 with the ball making its way up and down the line, as Andrew Humberstone eventually scored to break the deadlock. This was followed by a terrific try from Denham 5 minutes later as Seers found him on the wing with a looping pass and he demonstrated devastating pace to leave the Taunton defenders in his dust and score under the posts with ease. Both sides traded tries before half time, with Webb scoring for the away side, having taken a quick penalty, and Jones replied for the men from Reading as Vooght popped the ball to him having been taken down inches from the try line. But it was the Rams who made the last move of the half as they opted to kick from a penalty and Seers cleared the conversion comfortably.

The Rams came out flying after the break scoring two more tries early on, the pick of which came, once again from Andrew Humberstone, as the Rams backs chased down a Corrigan kick like a pack of wolves allowing Humberstone to steal the ball and score in the corner.

With 20 minutes to go Taunton began to find their feet in the game, as they began to control possession and gain territory steadily, with Jess eventually taking the ball over the line on the wing. Not willing to let this momentum slide, Taunton burst forward again, and with Henderson receiving a yellow card, the away side took advantage of their extra man, with Woodward managing to squeeze the ball over the line, as hopes of an unlikely comeback began to emerge.

However, it was not be as the Rams saw off any challenge to their lead with a penalty kick from Seers and a try in the last minute from Corrigan, as he ran the ball over the line in the corner following a whipped pass from Seers out to the wing, which signaled the final whistle from the referee.

STATS:
Rams:
Tries: Humberstone A 8, 52, Denham 11, Jones 27, Guttridge 44, Corrigan 80
Conversions: Seers 14, 27, 44
Penalties: Seers 40, 77

Taunton:

Tries: Webb 20, Jess 61, Woodward 66
Conversions: Kingdom 20, 61, 66

Half time: 22 - 7
Attendance: 341
Referee: Benjamin Russell
Man of the Match : Tom Vooght (Rams)

Team news: Rams (15-9, then 1-8):
Humberstone T, Corrigan, Jones, Humberstone A, Denham, Seers, Illingworth, Kidd, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, Stapley C, Wolf, Vooght, Guttridge.
Replacements: Drew, McDonnell-Roberts, Page, Rossiter, Lloyd

Taunton:
Kingdom, Jess, Mason, East, Fraser, Webb, Massy, Baker, Francis, Dalton, Chapman, Reynolds, Oliphant-Thompson, Woodward, Prior
Replacements: Hamilton, Wilman, Ogden, Persey, Brown