Stags lose out to second half Rams

Newbury Stags suffered a disappointing 26-12 defeat against Rams III despite a spirited performance from a much-changed side.

It’s been a difficult start to the Counties 2 Tribute BBO South season for the Stags, who have lost a number of players to the depleted Blues and even had to forfeit a game last month, leaving them languishing second from bottom in the table.

However there was a lot to like about this patchwork performance which featured a number of players impressing out of position and a cameo for Blues head coach, James McAvoy.

It was a stop-start first half an hour but the contest whirred into life when the experienced Dan Thorne released Matt Cox to score out wide and hand the Stags a 5-0 lead.

The visitors held on until half time but went behind three minutes after the restart when a mistake at a Stags lineout handed the home side a scrum, the ball was released into midfield and the hosts crashed over underneath the posts, the conversion successful to make it 7-5.

After such an impressive first half, Stags looked a little sheepish in much of the second 40 and the Rams soon extended their lead, scoring two tries before the hour to take the score to 21-5.

It was then time for the Blues captain and head coach to combine as Thorne found McAvoy – who’d been introduced three minutes beforehand – who touched down to reduce the arrears to 21-12.

At this point it looked as though the Stags might find a way back into the game, but the visitors were punished for a number of missed opportunities when with five minutes left on the clock Rams stole the visitors lineout and found space wide on the left to score and wrap up a 26-12 win.

The game was decided in the period after the restart when Rams scored three tries in quick succession, but the Stags proved themselves resilient and determined.

The result moves Rams up to third while Stags are down in 11th having lost three times, won once and incurred a five point penalty for forfeiting against Henley III.

Stags are back in action in a fortnight's time with the visit of Slough on October 22.