SEB Reynolds saluted the way Rams navigated a stop-start National One contest as they beat Dings Crusaders 26-17 at Old Bath Road.
Having not played for a month, the hosts made a mesmerising start as two Tomek Pozniak tries inside six minutes had them 12-0 up, Fraser Honey converting the second.
Things fell a little flat after that, however, the only remaining points of the opening half coming with the final play as Jamie Elswood slotted a penalty for Dings.
A sensational team try finished by Zach Clow pushed Rams further in front early in the second period, only for Crusaders to swiftly reply through Nick English.
Star man Ollie Cole’s quick tap penalty set-up Axel Kalling-Smith for the bonus-point score, and while Matt Lane’s magnificent solo effort cut the gap for Dings before the final whistle, it was too little, too late.
Reflecting on an interesting, and sometimes frustrating, afternoon, Reynolds said: “It was a decent start, but we had to be careful as it can lead to complacency against a very good side – as it was the game kind of settled into being a bit stop-start.
“We were forcing errors which was good, but then there were a lot of line-outs, scrums – plenty reset – but I felt it was a good performance against a team who arrived with lots of confidence following a clinical win against Sedgely Park last week.
“However, a big thing about the team this year is the way we can deal with the change of pace – it was frustrating the way the scrum was interpreted and managed when both sides wanted to get on with the game – but you just have to deal with it.”
Clow’s early second-half effort was a pearler featuring beautiful hands from Rowan Grundy, Kalling-Smith and Morgan MacRae before the wing grabbed his ninth of the campaign, with the Director of Rugby continuing: “I was pleased with the way we took the score because it had been on in the first half – it was great to see.
“Then OC’s vision (for the fourth try) also showed we want to play some rugby, and it was great for him to take the initiative – it was also brilliant to see him play the full 80.
“But credit to the whole group after a long break. We’ve had two weeks training and you try and balance the intensity so they’re not shocked when they come back to a match, but you can never quite recreate the atmosphere around it.
“We had a few boys cramping up having not played for a month on a slightly heavy pitch, so it was just good to get the win.”
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Another plus point for the hosts was the debut of Oli Rhoads, the former Newbury youngster coming on for half-an-hour in place of Grundy and making a notable impact, while Reynolds also praised the day with Harry Gow on the bagpipes and a superb Burns Lunch well attended.
He beamed: “Oli got a fantastic turnover, a little line break and was very good in defence – a couple of superb tackles and to go from Level Six to Three this season he’s done amazingly well. To come on and have that performance was brilliant.
“Harry’s been doing the bagpipes for a few years now, he’s fantastic, and once again the supporters created a wonderful atmosphere, so we’re very thankful to all of them.”
Rams travel to Leicester Lions on Saturday (2pm).
