REDINGENSIANS Rams suffered a heart-breaking 25-24 defeat at home to Bishop’s Stortford as the visitors scored the match-winning try with the last play of the game.

The Hertfordshire side began this National Two South match strongly, with the majority of the opening half hour taking place in Rams’ half.

Bishop’s Stortford went 13-0 up courtesy of a Tom Banks penalty and a brace of tries on the right wing from Ryan Hutler and Will Simmonds.

Yet the hosts hit back before the interval, a fantastic run by Tom Vooght providing Rams with their first glimpse of the opposing try line. Phil Hoy won his line-out and set up the impressive Ben Henderson for his try. Jacob Atkins added the extras to cut the gap to six at half time.

Things got better for Redingensians after the break. Far more assertive in their attack, the home side began to put their first real pressure on their opponents as Dan Sanders and Andy Amor had early chances on the Bishop’s Stortford try line, with one such opportunity held up by the visitors.

However, Robbie Stapley’s post-scrum charge provided Greg Illingworth with a try and, after Atkins landed the conversion, Rams were 14-13 up.

This only lasted for a few minutes, though, as Hutler bagged his second try, converted by Banks.

A yellow card for Bishop’s Stortford captain Mark McCraith opened the opportunity for Rossiter to score a final try for Rams in the clubhouse corner.

Atkins knocked over the conversion and followed this with a successful penalty in the closing moments of the game to put Rams 24-20 ahead with only a few minutes left on the clock.

Unfortunately, there was late tragedy for Mike Tewkesbury’s men.

An overlap in the final play of the game gave Nick Hankin an opening and Bishop’s Stortford an exhilarating last-minute victory which keeps them third in the table.

Seventh-placed Redingensians visit Worthing on Saturday.