Pack power pays off as Rams get past Park

By RICHARD ASHTON

Rams ……………… 31pts

Tries: Clow 8, 43, McRae 19, Hayman 32, 56

Conversions: Honey 9, 33, 44

Rosslyn Park …20pts

Tries: Walker 15, Williams 25, Jardine 61

Conversions: Wilstead 62

Penalties: Wilstead 23

At the double: Zach Clow scored two tries for Rams

PICTURES: Claire Tremeer

A POWERFUL forwards performance provided the backdrop to Rams making it four bonus-point wins from four with a home success against a tenacious Rosslyn Park.

The hosts claimed an early lead as a James Baker break took them into their opponents' 22, the ball then switched to the left for Zach Clow to break the deadlock.

Fraser Honey, who put in a controlled performance throughout, landed a brilliant touchline conversion, but Park hit back swiftly as a fine line from Gregor Gillanders punched a hole in the Rams defence. From there, the ball was shipped out wide, Charlie Walker touching down.

The home side gathered themselves and, with their set-piece in fine working order, led by man-of-the-match Connor Stapley, they utilised a rolling maul for James McRae to barge over on the right.

Park cut the deficit with a straight-forward Tom Wilstead penalty almost immediately, and then hit the front when a fine backs move was finished by debutant Matt Williams.

Wilstead pushed a kickable conversion to the right, and his side were made to pay when a second maul score, this time by Max Hayman, was added to by Honey for a six-point lead. The hosts had a glorious chance to extend the lead with the final play of the half, only for a three-on-one overlap to be butchered before they conceded a penalty.

Park came flying out the blocks at the start of the second period, but following wave after wave of attack, they were turned over and James McRae put boot to ball.

When it stayed in-field on the right, Clow outjumped Wilstead before sprinting in from 55 metres, Honey making it 2613.

Hayman doubled his tally with a rinse-andrepeat effort, but Park continued to battle and grabbed a third try of their own just after the hour mark, replacement scrum-half Sunni Jardine breaching the line following a succession of pickand-goes.

However, Rams doubled down with their efforts, closing out the game ruthlessly as they camped in their rivals' 22 for much of the final ten minutes.

Rams director of rugby Seb Reynolds had mixed emotions after the contest, admitting: “We struggled at times to get a foothold in what at times was a bit of a stop-start game, but that's because of how good Rosslyn Park were.

“They really challenged us at the breakdown and got some good turnovers, but I'm pleased with how we killed the game off in the end.”