The first half and the final quarter belonged to the home team.

The first half and the final quarter belonged to the home team.

Excellent retention and very good defence kept the visitors in the lead until near the end.

- SHORT VERSION

The visitors were kept in their own half for the first 16 minutes. After line-out near halfway was stolen, fullback O'Toole sent a very good kick to touch 6 metres from the visitors' line. The defence held initially before fly-half Coles nearly got to the line then the ball was recycled to flanker Smyth who found a gap to get over at 16 minutes. O'Toole's conversion just went by far then past, not curling in. The rest of the first half belonged to Redingensians who 3 times put together sets of many phases but did not score. Both defences had had to be very good.

Early in the second half the Rams put together their 4th sequence of many phases that soon resulted in a penalty try. Barnes' errors led to Redingensians' penalties kicked at 13 minutes and 17 minutes them a 2 score lead but these were their last points. Changes to Barnes' back line seemed to change the outcome. Replacement scrumhalf Franklin broke to touch down for his team’s second try. Then after much pressure close to the line, with 6 minutes to go O'Toole, now at fly-half, sent a low flat chip through to the line and Lewis, from just outside him, beat him to the touchdown. O'Toole added.

- LONGER VERSION

The visitors replied to the kick-off with an up-and-under which they regained then recycled 4 times before the home team got the first scrum put-in, still in their opponents' half. Barnes chipped through the line to get a second put-in 10 metres ahead. They got a free-kick at that and ran it, recycling 3 times before being penalised 27 metres out. The Rams' kick didn't find touch and fullback O'Toole chipped over then he set wing Cottenham free. The ball was recycled 3 times before the visitors won a turnover. They kicked for territory then returned Barnes chip ahead with an up-and-under. Barnes dealt with this and went blind twice to get their first penalty into the opposition half. From their line-out, not much further ahead, they went wide and recycled 3 times before the defence forced an error and cleared to touch 5 metres into the other half. From the line-out Barnes kept the ball in for a drive before their no.8 broke off and they tried wider ball. Redingensians forced another error to get the next scrum 30 metres from their line. Their scrumhalf was caught at the base of that and the opposition got the ball and advanced but only to another put-in for the Rams just inside their 22. That appeared to be wheeled by Barnes who were penalised. The visitors kicked for a line-out still in their half that was stolen. Barnes kept the ball close for a couple of phases before going wider and O'Toole sent a very good diagonal chip into touch 6 metres out. The Rams used an up-and-under from the line-out. The opposition dealt with this then O'Toole and Cottenham combined well to case the visitors trouble but the defence held to get a scrum 12 metres out. From it they cleared to touch still 13 metres inside their half. From this line-out Barnes varied their recycling and advanced to another line-out, now 7 metres out. From it they kept the ball tight for 5 phases before fly-half Coles went for the line then the ball was recycled again to flanker Smyth who found a gap to get over at 16 minutes. O'Toole's conversion just went by far then past, not curling in.

The restart was not properly dealt with but was hacked ahead into touch 19 metres from Barnes' line. This created the first opportunity of the game for the visitors. From the line-out the Rams put together their best sequence made up of 12 phases. Early they got close to Barnes line then were forced far backwards before being penalised 11 metres into the opposition half. The touch kick didn't take Barnes far then from their line-out they started with a drive before going wide, getting to the 22 then losing possession. Redingensians kicked long almost to the opposition line and then the ball was cleared to touch still 17 metres inside the home team's half. From the line-out the Rams released to centre where an error gave Barnes a put-in near halfway. Kicks were exchanged after that resulting in a Barnes' line-out a couple of metres ahead of the previous scrum. From it the home team's forwards started a drive then kicked before the Ref. went back to award a penalty back where the line-out had been. The kick took Barnes to another line-out 27 metres out. From this one they quickly released to centre and recycled 3 times until the defence got the next scrum just outside their 22.

This started the second good set of phases from the Rams taking them all the way to 6 metres from the opposition line where the defence forced an error to get a scrum put-in. From this no.8 Crossland sent centre Holmes to force the attackers back before the ball was cleared to touch almost to halfway. From this next line-out the visitors released to centre and recycled three times before dropping the ball. From the scrum just inside the opposition half, which was under pressure, Barnes went blind and recycled 3 times before O'Toole chipped through and Cottenham forced a defender into touch just outside the 22.

Barnes' pack tried for a drive but the defence was good and they got a line-out at their 22 after 4 phases from the opposition. The Rams got a put-in straight after the line-out. Their pack kept the ball in then they went blind to get a penalty a couple of metres ahead. The kick took them to their line-out almost to halfway. They kept the ball tight again but their forwards were penalised for "crossing". The touch kick didn't go far then the line-out was stolen. This started Redingensians third very good set of phases ending when the home team forced an error to get a scrum 29 metres from their line. Barnes kicked for territory, not to touch. The Rams ran the ball back to get a penalty 8 metres into the opposition half. They kicked for a line-out just inside the 22 then an error at the line-out gave Barnes the last scrum of the half. An up-and-under followed; the Rams put together 6 phases before an error was forced and they were penalised just before the whistle.

Barnes cleared the second half restart to touch 5 metres inside their half. The visitors threw the line-out not-straight and the opposition chose another line-out. An up-and-under that went out on the full led to a third line-out. From this one Redingensians' pack kept the ball close and put together their fourth set of many phases, this time 14, to get a penalty 16 metres out. They kicked for a line-out 7 metres out. The pack then drove for the line; this went down close and they recycled once before the Ref. gave "held up" and went back for a penalty 5 metres out. They chose a scrum, which was reset twice before the ball was put-in. A penalty try soon followed; this after 6 minutes and was converted by replacement scrumhalf Brooks.

The Rams returned the restart with an up-and-under. Barnes ran the ball and were soon penalised at the next breakdown. The kick took the visitors to 11 metres into the other half. From the line-out they first kept the ball tight then when the defence brought the drive down they went wide and made good yards until an error was forced 16 metres out. Redingensians were penalised for offside soon after the scrum and Barnes kicked for a line-out still 17 metres inside their half. After that the Rams got a penalty for "crossing" by the opposition and Brooks kicked the points at 13 minutes.

At the restart a Barnes' player appeared to tackle the kick-receiver in the air and earned a 10 minute rest. Again the Rams threw a line-out not-straight. Barnes chose another and lost their fly-half to injury just after. A scrum for the home team followed; kicks were exchanged with Barnes dropping the second one. From the scrum 12 metres into the opposition half, the visitors kept the ball in to get a penalty 4 metres closer and Brooks added another 3 points for a 2 score lead after 17 minutes.

The Rams returned the restart with an up-and-under; Barnes dealt with this and broke through at centre. The move broke down with an unnecessary forward pass 28 metres from the opposition line. The visitors used another up-and-under after their scrum. Barnes went wide then had a kick charged down that went into touch giving them a line-out on halfway. Their pack kept the ball in from their line-out and advanced strongly before their replacement scrumhalf Franklin made a break. The ball was recycled tight 4 times before being released to O'Toole, now at fly-half. He fed replacement three-quarter Lewis then after 2 more recycles Franklin saw a gap and went through it to the line near the posts at 23 minutes. O'Toole added.

The visitors restarted longer and Barnes soon tried an up-and-under that was comfortably dealt with. The Rams went wide and broke through the first tackle and advanced until forced into touch 20 metres into the other half. Barnes' pack started a drive before Franklin set back on again wing Sagar away; he kicked down the touchline resulting in a line-out for Redingensians 6 metres from their line. This was stolen and Barnes recycled 3 times before a near intercept. The home team got a put-in 18 metres out but were penalised at it. The Rams kicked to touch at their 10 metre line. This again was stolen; Barnes kept the ball in a maul then when it went down they recycled 4 times before chipping through. The visitors cleared to touch 19 metres out. Barnes' pack opted for a drive and got a penalty 6 metres out. They kicked for a line-out 5 metres out and their forwards were forced back from that to a scrum put-in for the Rams. The visitors were penalised at that and the opposition went for another 5 metre line-out. The forward drive went down 3 metres out and the ball was recycled to O'Toole. He sent a low flat chip through to the line and Lewis, from just outside him, beat him to the touchdown at 34 minutes. O'Toole added.

The restarted was replied to with an up-and-under and a knock-on gave Barnes a scrum still 6 metres inside their half. Soon another up-and-under was tried and the visitors were forced back. They got a clearing kick away that was touched by the opposition resulting in a line-out for the Rams at their 22. From it they put together 5 phases advancing to their 10 metre line before an error was forced and the opposition got the next line-out. Then Barnes started by keeping the ball in before releasing to centre; four more close recycles resulted in their scrum with out having advanced much. The whistle went just after the scrum.

100% overcast at the start; some drizzle earlier then rain started just before the kick-off. It stopped and started but there was rain for only a small part of the game