REDINGENSIANS Rams put in a brave, but ultimately futile, display as they were beaten 26-5 at National Two South leaders Cinderford, writes Cameron Temple.

Hoping to bounce back from their agonising two-point defeat at home to fellow high-flyers Chinnor the week before, third-placed Rams fought hard in a first half played in freezing conditions, with a thick fog enveloping the pitch.

Nonetheless, the visitors seemed unaffected as they dominated the early exchanges, and they almost capitalised on this early dominance.

With both sides fighting for the ball in scrappy fashion, it fell kindly for Rams over the Cinderford try line, but with Tom Vooght ready to pounce, he was beaten to the ball by the Cinderford full back.

The table-toppers reacted well to what could have been a disastrous start to the game, as they relentlessly came forward at a resilient Rams defence, going through the phases efficiently, until eventually they found a gap, with Harry Hone taking the ball over the line for an unconverted try.

Seb Reynolds’ men responded well, though, immediately pinning the home side within their 22 line, and Tom Humberstone displayed a moment of creativity to chip the ball over the Cinderford defence for Conor Corrigan to run on to, but the move was eventually broken down due to the Rams conceding a penalty.

During the next five minutes the game entered a period of stalemate, as the foggy and freezing conditions seemed to be affecting both sets of players, leading to a series of handling errors.

However, Rams were able to compose themselves, following a lengthy delay due to an injury for Cinderford, and the pack drove impressively from five metres out, with Miles Lloyd whipping the ball out quickly to Corrigan on the wing who dived over the line, bringing the scores level going into half time.

The fog began to lift at the beginning of the second half and Cinderford soon took the lead as Hone pounced on a loose ball over the Rams’ try line, having blocked a clearance kick from Humberstone.

The hosts seemed to have come into the second period with a new zeal of energy as they spent the next 25 minutes camped in within the Rams’ 22, and while absorbing relentless pressure, Gensians lost Jak Rossiter and James Baker to injury.

Despite dominating possession and territory, Cinderford were unable to find a way through and so opted to take three points by the way of a penalty kick, but this opportunity was also missed.

However, they were not left ruing their missed chances for long, as Rob Winchle scored two quick tries to put the game to bed.

Redingensians Rams will aim to return to winning ways at home to Tonbridge Juddian on Saturday (2pm).