RAMS RFC returned to winning ways with a breath-taking performance as they hammered fellow National Two South high-flyers Bury St Edmunds 47-21 at Old Bath Road on Saturday, writes Richard Ashton.

Seb Reynolds' side had made a brilliant start to the season with bonus-point victories on the opening three weekends, only to fall to an 18-10 defeat at Old Albanians the week before they welcomed Bury.

And despite making a slow start, Rams went on to produce a display which will send an ominous warning to the rest of the division.

It was the away side who made an early breakthrough on a glorious afternoon, a series of thrusts in midfield creating space for Alex Stanley to dart over for the first try of the day. Nick Perez added the extras and Bury St Edmunds were 7-0 up after five minutes.

Rams hit back on the quarter-hour mark, though, Andrew Humberstone charging down an attempted clearance kick before collecting the ball and crossing the whitewash.

The home side moved in front shortly after with a fabulous score, excellent support play among the backs being finished off by full back Joe Duffelen whose try was converted by Alex Seers.

With their tails up, Rams continued to dominate, but Bury defended manfully and struck back against the run of play when a second converted try from Stanley – who sprinted in from 20 metres – put them 14-12 to the good.

Yet Rams rallied before the break, and it was again their forwards who showed their class.

After kicking a penalty to the corner, they worked the Bury fringe defence around until hooker and man-of-the-match Ben Henderson powered over from close range to put his side back in front. Seers added the extras and the home side were 19-14 to the good at the break.

Having shown their dominance among the forwards, Rams utilised the tactic to good effect early in the second half, pinning their opponents inside their own 22 until Seers produced a delightful cross-field kick for Jak Rossiter to collect and dot down. Seers added the extras, and Rams surged further clear in the 58th minute when their superb pack earned a penalty try after Bury were forced into infringing repeatedly at the scrum.

The sixth home try arrived on 67 minutes when Rams kicked long and retrieved the ball, Humberstone freeing wing Andrew Denham to go over before Seers converted to extend the lead to 40-14.

It took just three minutes for another fabulous Rams try to arrive, the backs again showing fine hands to allow Rossiter to go over for his second afternoon, the impressive Seers again making no mistake from the tee.

Despite being on the wrong end of a hiding, Bury stuck gamely to their task and scored a consolation try late on, centre Mark Kohler crossing the whitewash before Perez again slotted the conversion.

Rams are now top-of-the-table on points difference ahead of Taunton Titans, and face a trip to Barnes on Saturday.

  • IN the BB&O Championship, Berkshire Shire Hall lost 43-12 to Aldermaston.