Tough against the top

The visitors knocked-on receiving the kick-off to their 22, resulting in a scrum. At the first one the Rams didn't get the ball clear; at the second they got a free-kick and chose a third. They struggled to get the ball away then recycled twice close before being turned over. Barnes kicked for territory and the Rams ran back and dropped the ball after recycling twice. The visitors got the ball, recycled twice then kicked deep into the opposition 22. After another kick from the Rams, Barnes ran the ball; after one recycle they were penalised 2 metres past halfway. The kicked took the home team to 19 metres from their opponents' line. An error in that resulted in a scrum put-in for the defence. They soon used an up-and-under that was dropped by an opposition player 2 metres from halfway. Barnes went wide from the scrum then wider; this resulted in a turnover; Reds had a kick charged down and they in turn lost possession. Barnes then put together a good sequence of 8 varied phases but without advancing before the opposition forced an error to get a scrum 8 metres past halfway. The Rams' pack pushed the visitors' back then let their backs have the ball. After 4 phases advancing 10 metres they got a penalty and kicked to touch 6 metres out. They dropped the line-out ball and the visitors got it; Barnes kept the ball for 3 close phases before using an up-and-under. A Barnes' player, fired up by a strong tackle on him minutes earlier, went for a catcher in the air and earned himself a 10 minute cooing off period. The Rams kicked for a line-out at the 22; their drive went sideways them made ground before going down. They recycled twice close to advance almost to the line before the Ref. went back to a penalty 7 metres out. A scrum was chosen at which they got a free-kick and opted for another put-in. They soon released to centre then put together another 6 mostly close phases to put lock Taylor over not far from the posts just after 16 minutes. Fly-half Seers added.

After the high restart and a returned up-and-under the visitors had a scrum at the opposition 10 metre line. They kept the ball for 8 mixed phases before being penalised 2 metres back. The kick took the Reds to 18 metres out; from the line-out they advanced loosely then broke blind and advanced again almost to the line before the Ref. went back for a penalty 12 metres out. Another line-out 5 metres out after kicking to touch then another drive; the defence held then the ball was recycled close 4 times before defence were awarded a penalty 4 metres out. Barnes kicked for a line-out 29 metres out and used an up-and-under after it. The Rams ran back and made good ground then the visitors forced an error and got the ball back. They kicked for territory; again the home team ran back and after 2 recycles wing Corrigan broke through the defence and ran to the posts at 25 minutes. Seers added.

The high restart resulted in a dropped ball and penalty for the usual automatic response. This 14 minutes into the home team's half and a good kick took the visitors nearly to 5 metres out. An attempted drive was held then Barnes recycled close 10 times before the defence won a turnover and soon cleared to touch 20 metres from halfway. Barnes threw the line-out long and not straight; from their scrum the Rams soon released to centre, advanced the recycled and kicked diagonally to touch. Barnes took a quick line-out and soon kicked long, almost to the opposition 22. The Rams passed forward 24 metres from their line; from the scrum the visitors went wide then a pass was dropped. The Rams hacked the ball on to halfway where they visitors regained. They recycled close 3 times then fly-half Hammett broke through in midfield. One pass and one recycle set centre Van Buuren moving; he passed to the other centre Holmes who fed wing Martey who went to the corner at 34 minutes. A very good conversion from the fly-half followed.

After a restart to the 22 and an up-and-under reply the Rams ran the ball for 3 phases before being forced into touch 18 metres into their opponents' half. After the line-out Banes used an up-and-under; the Reds chipped over the opposition and regained. Barnes forced a turnover but right after dropped the ball. The Rams kept the ball for 3 phases before using an up-and-under; next Barnes had the ball for 4 phases before being penalised 25 metres from their line. This when very slow getting their ruck ball out. The home team kicked for a line-out less than 7 metres out and from there their pack drove over half way out with hooker Henderson on the ball. Seers made it 21 - 7 before the whistle.

Following the second half restart and the usual up-and-under Barnes soon kicked ahead then won a turnover. They kept / had the ball for 5 phases before kicking into the 22; the Rams ran the ball wide and advanced strongly then recycled twice close before being turned over. Right after that Barnes were awarded a penalty 14 metres inside their half. The kick took them to the opposition 22 and from their line-out they had the ball for 8 mainly close phases before losing possession. The Reds got the ball and ran away to the other half; the ball was recycled once and kicked cross field for centre Humberstone to get and run to the line then in to the posts at 5 minutes. Seers added.

The restart was cleared to touch 12 metres from halfway. From their line-out Barnes had the ball for 5 close phases then kicks were exchanged before the visitors kicked out on the full from 5 metres inside their half. The Rams went wide from their line-out, recovered from an error, then broke through. A blatant forward pass in front of the opposition replacements was unseen by the Ref. and near assistant who were way behind and led to a try for centre Jones at 9 minutes. The conversion missed.

The home team soon kicked back the high and long restart; a Barnes' catcher dropped the ball giving the Reds a scrum at their 10 metre line. They got a free-kick at that and ran the ball then chipped through the opposition line. This resulted in a penalty for Barnes 16 metres inside their half; they ran that, got another then ran again. Following 7 mixed phases they passed into touch 30 metres from their opponents' line. The Rams advanced from the line-out with 5 close phases to an unplayable ruck that resulted in their put-in near halfway. Their penalty at the scrum was run and then they recycled 3 times before they chipped over to touch 7 metres out. Tapped ball from Barnes' line-out was got by opposition flanker Vooght who went over near the corner before the end of the 3rd quarter. The conversion was wide.

The home team cleared the long restart to touch 11 metres from halfway. The visitors threw their line-out not-straight; since the Rams got the ball advantage was played. They ran away far into the other half until the defence forced an error to get a scrum put-in 8 metres out. From that Barnes cleared to touch 18 metres out; from their line-out the Reds advanced with 6 mixed phases to get a penalty and a man advantage for 10 minutes 7 metres out. They chose a scrum and their pack drove to the line for scrumhalf LLoyd go touch down wide out at 22 minutes. The conversion was wide.

The Rams dealt with the long high restart then were penalised 26 metres out; Barnes put the ball into touch 14 metres out. From their line-out they set up a drive that made some ground slowly before going down. They recycled 4 times close to get over the line but were held up. The Ref. went back to a previously signalled penalty 5 metres out. Barnes' forwards ran the ball and kept it for 5 close phases before going wider. They were intercepted but the Ref. went back for another penalty 5 metres out. Again the forwards kept the ball and no.8 Van Der Poel got over near the posts at 26 minutes. Hammett added.

The visitors secured the restart; three kicks followed then from the line-out 18 metres into Barnes' half the Rams advanced close then led their backs have the ball. Wing Rossiter broke through a tackle and went to the line half way out at 32 minutes. The conversion missed

The close restart resulted in a scrum for the home team 11 metres inside their half. From that they had the ball for 4 close phases before getting a penalty 7 metres back. The kicked for a line-out near to halfway and from that went wide before passing forward. From the scrum Barnes recycled mostly close 7 times before being turned over. The Reds advanced then kicked for territory into the other half. Barnes ran back before being forced into touch 6 metres past halfway. The line-out resulted in a scrum for the visitors 4 metres ahead. Barnes kept the ball for 3 phases to get a penalty another 4 metres ahead. They ran this then were turned over with out recycling. The home team recycled a few times before kicking out for the whistle.

Bright with wind varying from moderate to less; dry at the start and end, some drizzle at halftime; the pitch rather soft.