RAMS RFC were dealt a big blow in the National One title race as a 28-22 defeat at Plymouth Albion effectively ended their hopes of winning the league.
Rams twice took the lead through tries from Zach Clow and Max Hayman, the first added to by Fraser Honey.
However, Albion initially levelled through Tom Cowan-Dickie and then hit the front thanks to a Ramaz Rukhadze score, both converted by Tom Putt.
Disaster struck for Rams immediately from the restart with Charlie Robson harshly sin-binned for a high tackle, before Ollie Monye suffered the same fate 90 seconds later for an off-the-ball push on Rukhadze, the Georgian prop appearing to hold down the scrum-half before the penalty was reversed and a card issued.
The hosts made the most of their numerical advantage as Morgan Stone crossed in the 13th minute of injury-time to give his side a 21-12 interval lead, albeit Rams got back in the game as captain Robbie Stapley claimed a 99th first-team try early in the second period.
Plymouth, though, responded through Archie Hill, Putt extending the lead to 11 points, and while Hayman doubled his tally late on, Rams were unable to snatch a late winner despite the hosts having Torin Clarke and Jake Bond carded in the final few minutes.
Rams director of rugby Seb Reynolds said: “To start with we had control of the game – when it was 15-on-15 and we had good discipline we looked quite comfortable – but a combination of decisions let them get away.
“Our discipline in the middle third, a couple of off-sides and other things, was punished and it was 12 penalties and two yellow cards against us in the first half – you don’t win rugby matches like that.
“Strangely I felt a bit sorry for such an impressive crowd (a seasonal high of 1,700 were in attendance at Brickfields) because I don’t think they saw the best of National One, the sort of free-flowing quality you can get – there was a lot of whistle-blowing and delaying tactics, and that was a
shame.”
He continued: “You’ve got to hand it to Plymouth, they deserved it in the end, but we need to make sure those factors don’t have a say.
“I’m pleased with our boys and the physicality, although we couldn’t truly get going. The yellow cards didn’t help because you need to make substitutions and it was only in the last 10 or 15 minutes, we got fully going at them.
“I felt when we scored at the end we’d go on and win it, I thought they were done, and we looked fresh – our boys could have gone and done another game.
“But credit to Plymouth, they saw it out well.”
Defeat leaves Rams eight points behind leaders Chinnor with two games to play, and the DoR concluded: “We’re finding out so much about the group, they’re staying positive in what they do and they’re a superb bunch – a pleasure to be around.
“We’ve got to work out how we push things forward, but I can see the direction we need to go and I’m excited about the last two games.”
The first of those is Rams’ final home game of the season, Richmond the visitors next Saturday (3pm).
By Richard Ashton
