Honey seals sweetest win in classic contest

By RICHARD ASHTON

Rams ………………22pts

Tries: McRae 40, Jones 58, Kalling-Smith 74

Conversions: Honey 40, 58

Penalties: Honey 79

Tries: Daly 3, 61

Conversions: Putt 3, 61

Penalties: Putt 28, 77

Plymouth A …… 20pts

FRASER Honey's late penalty helped Rams snatch a dramatic yet deserved 22-20 victory in a National One classic at Old Bath Road.

The hosts made a dreadful start as they spilled the kick-off.

Albion immediately worked through the phases before Sam Daly found a gap in the defence to touch down next to the posts.

Tom Putt made no mistake with the kick, but Rams regrouped and took control of possession and territory, only to come up against a formidable Plymouth wall.

Time after time the hosts were repelled near their opponents' line, and it was Albion who then extended their advantage with a Putt penalty from 35 metres out.

Rams continued to put pressure on their high-flying rivals, and it eventually told with a brace of yellow cards.

Hallam Chapman was the first to be set to the sin-bin for a late tackle on Finn Matthews after the young wing chipped ahead, and then Archie Hill followed him for going offside near his line.

And finally, their efforts were rewarded on the stroke of half-time.

The quick-thinking James McRae took a quick tap-and-go to barge over from five metres out before Honey slotted the conversion to cut the gap to three points at the interval.

Plymouth again made the faster start to the second period, only for Putt to miss a long-range penalty before Rams again began to reassert themselves.

Yet they once more came up against superb defence, only for some dazzling footwork from Ollie Monye to free Ellis Jones to cross under the posts.

Honey landed a simple kick, but Rams again failed to exit properly, and Daly doubled his tally shortly after, Putt with the conversion to put his side back in front.

Man-of-the-match McRae then made a stor ming burst through the midfield before Axel Kalling-Smith was unable to take the pass with the line at his mercy, only for the Swedish inter national to make amends with six minutes remaining as he crossed superbly in clubhouse corner.

On this occasion Honey was off target, and another mistake from the restart allowed Putt to nudge his side a point in front.

However, there was one final twist in the tale as the visitors were pinged for not releasing, Honey with the coup de grace with a minute to go.

Rams' Director of Rugby, Seb Reynolds, was delighted with the result and said: “It was an outstanding game, and credit to Plymouth.

“But we're obviously extremely pleased with the win.”