The first-half proved an edgy affair and it took until just before the break for matters to heat up when Rams’ centre David Massey was somewhat harshly sinbinned for an off the ball incident.

This precipitated a brawl which led to Jamie Guttridge joining his teammate in the bin while the hosts lost Mike Mathers for 10 minutes to make it a 14 v 13 contest.

Following that drama, Liam Hemming slotted a penalty to put Old Cents 3-0 up, but Rams hit back immediately.

A pick-up from a lucky bounce for Joe Duffelen allowed the full-back to stretch his legs and find wing Josh Sunley, who chipped ahead and beat the cover defence to the ball to touch down.

James Brooks - playing at fly-half for the first time this season - slotted the extras to put Rams 7-3 up at the break.

The second-half started superbly for the visitors as a poor pass allowed Sunley, pictured left, to pounce and kick the ball into the Cents in-goal, scorching ahead for his second score.

This time Brooks was unable to add the two points and, almost immediately, the home side hit back when Rams conceded a penalty for straying offside at a ruck, Hemming again kicked the points to reduce the deficit to six.

It was nip and tuck for the next 20 minutes with the home side keeping Gensians in check, but Rams extended their lead on 70 minutes when Brooks intercepted a poor pass in the 22 to send wing Olly Foxley scampering over in the left-hand corner.

A brilliant touchline conversion by Brooks made the score 19-6, and although Centralians scored a late try through Rob Jones, Hemming was unable to add a tough kick.

This deprived the hosts of a bonus point as Rams ran the clock down impressively to continue their excellent start to the campaign.

Skipper Andy Amor praised his opponents and admitted: “No side is going to come down here and have an easy victory. Their league position does them justice, they are a very hard side to break down and we’re very pleased to get the win in the end.

“Every away game is always going to be difficult and we just had to stick to our patterns and do what we do best.

“We trust our abilities and, in the end, it came through and it was another win.”

Redingensians are now in fourth place and just three points behind leaders Exmouth.

They welcome struggling Old Patesians to Old Bath Road on Saturday (2.30pm), and head coach Mike Tewkesbury has warned his side not to take their fourth-bottom opponents for granted.

He said: “No clubs in this league can be taken lightly. You’ve only to look at last weekend’s results at Newton Abbot (who beat Exmouth 27-25) and Chard (who lost 27-31 to third-placed Brixham) to realise that.”

Fly-half Luke Flower is fit again though is likely to start on the bench.