SEB Reynolds believes RAMS’ astonishing 33-27 National One win at Cambridge is ‘probably the best comeback the team has ever done.’
On an emotional rollercoaster of an afternoon at Volac Park, Henry Bird’s 83rd-minute score completed a dramatic turnaround from 27-12 down heading into the final quarter as the hosts’ 15-match winning streak on their own turf was ended in the most remarkable fashion.
Things had started badly for the visitors as Cambridge went 14-0 up on the back of tries from Anthony Maka and Ben Brownlie, former RAM Steffan James adding the extras to both.
A superb Max Hayman five-pointer cut the gap, but with the Blood & Sand’s maul imperious, Brownlie went over for a second converted try and a 21-5 half-time advantage.
A James penalty extended the lead to 19 points before replacement Ben Henderson – outstanding after being introduced at the interval – smashed his way through three defenders for a score supremely converted by Alex Seers from the right-hand touchline.
But when James landed a second penalty his side held a significant advantage heading into the final stages.
Yet RAMS had looked dangerous with ball in hand all afternoon and Bird gave them a glimmer of hope as he dived over on the right, another substitute who made a major impact, Will Partington, with a fine conversion.
And the Chippenham boy then produced a sublime piece of skill to collect his own chip and dive over for a try he added to, making it 27-26 as the game headed into injury-time.
With a sizeable home crowd trying to rally their troops, Bird then scooped up a loose ball in midfield before racing 50 metres for a try in front of a by this point delirious travelling support.
Partington slotted the conversion and though Cambridge kicked a penalty to the corner at the death, RAMS repelled the maul before Jak Rossiter won a breakdown penalty to secure a most famous of victories.
Reflecting on an amazing afternoon, Director of Rugby, Reynolds, said: “It was a fantastic advert for National One, which is just a brilliant league.
“It looked at one point as though it could have been a comfortable win for Cambridge, but we came back and while it wasn’t great for the ticker, it was a really enjoyable game in front of a terrific crowd.”
He continued: “We’ve not been involved in many of those games where we’ve had to make massive comebacks, and as a team it’s probably the best one we’ve ever done.
“Teams like Cambridge can go seven, 14, 21 points up and you have to be patient because you can get trapped.
“We knew we had to play high-tempo and get in their half and we did it for the duration of the game, and in the final few minutes it finally paid off and we got the job done.”
Despite trailing 21-5 at the interval, the DoR said he never lost faith, while also paying tribute to the likes of Henderson, Partington and Ollie Allan who all stood out during the second period.
He revealed: “It was actually a very good performance throughout and I felt we were very threatening in the first half, so I could see how tries would come.
“We were defending really well other than we lost our discipline and then they were able to get their maul game going, but credit to the guys who came off the bench, they gave a big impact and energised the game.”
While RAMS were outstanding in the second half especially, they still trailed by eight points with less than five minutes of normal time remaining and when Partington chipped ahead, there was an audible shout of ‘No!’ from behind the goal-line before the stand-in fly-half grabbed it for his try.
Reynolds revealed: “I’m guilty of it sometimes and the guys take the mick, but on this occasion it was Dave Cox!
“Will’s got those little bits of genius in him – it was a moment of magic which really got us back in the game.”
And it was then over to Birdy, who sealed the deal with his seventh try in five games for RAMS against the Blood & Sand.
Delivered in stunning fashion in front of the travelling contingent, it led the DoR to conclude: “Credit to Birdy, the other guys in their 30s and the S&C team for keeping them so fresh – he looks younger than ever and it was typified by the way he finished it at the end.
“And we really appreciate the support which travels – they really added to the side and helped us across the line.”
RAMS head to Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday (3pm).
By Richard Ashton
