RAMS Centaurs climbed to third in the Counties Two Tribute Berks, Bucks & Oxon South with a terrific 32-5 home success against Beacondfield 2nd XV.

The hosts took the lead as Cam George added to Seb Rushton’s score, the former then dotting down for 12-0.

Beaconsfield got on the board with an unconverted try, only for a George penalty to put the Mighty Cents 10 points clear at the break.

The fly-half was on target after the break, and repeated the trick after Tom David went over for 25-5.

And a further gloss was put on the scoreboard as long-serving Graham Oakley cut a sumptuous line to finish a wonderfully worked team try, the bonus-point secured before David slotted the extras.

Player-coach Jack Gaylor was delighted to bounce back from defeat at champions Henley 2nd XV, revealing: “I felt we controlled the game with our best defensive performance of the season – the team worked together and applied the pressure to Beaconsfield.

“There were some top individual performances with Seb Rushton and Callum du Preez in the backfield solid in defence, and they added some much-needed spark on the outsides.

“Richard Inns played a strong 50 minutes in the front row and Graham coming off the bench to finish it was great.”

“But man-of-the-match again was Will Rayner. He was strong in defence, covered the line-out throwing at times, went to prop when we needed, and his open-field running also really shone through.”

While the contest featured four cards – two yellow for Rams and one of each for their opponents – Jack ended by saying: “The game was generally played in good spirits, with both teams bringing the physicality in the right way, and it was closer than the scoreline would suggest.”

The Centaurs are now just two points behind second-placed Maidenhead 2nd XV with four games to play.

They have a week off before hosting Slough under the Friday Night Lights on February 28, then another home game against Thatcham precedes a trip to Tadley, Maidenhead the visitors on the final day.