Post by Jamie Crawford on Aug 28, 2019 16:38:08 GMT
Rams Pre-season preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Castle Park Sat 31st Aug, 2019 - 2:30pm
Rams RFC is an English rugby union club based near the village of Sonning on the outskirts of Reading in the county of Berkshire. (Wikipedia)
“The Knights will face National League 1 side Rams RFC in a pre-season fixture on the 31st August.
Based in Reading, the recently promoted side will visit Castle Park on the back of just two defeats in their National 2 South campaign last season.
Known as Redingensians Rams until the beginning of last season, the side will pose a challenge for the Knights with top try scorer and hooker Ben Henderson dotting down 21 times during the 2018/19 campaign.
While winger Jak Rossiter scored 18 tries and Alex Sears managed an impressive points tally of 177 points.” (DRFC website)
The Rams were initially known just as Redingensians before adding Rams and then disposing of the Redingensians name.
As has been mentioned, the Rams were runaway winners of National Two South, some 18 league points above second-placed Canterbury and with a points difference of 311 better (almost double that of Canterbury; they scored 21.4 points/game more).
One of last season’s pre-season opponents for the Knights, Guernsey finished second to bottom in National 1 after winning just eight of their thirty games played. The Rams won 28 of theirs, so we can expect a very different class of opponent when we welcome them to Castle Park. Rugby Paper’s Coach of the Year, Rams’ Head Coach Seb Reynolds will obviously be very keen on taking a respected Championship scalp to add to his impressive achievements.
In addition to Reynold’s Rugby Paper recognition, Six Rams players made the starting 15 for The Rugby Paper National 2 South Dream Team:
•Jak Rossiter (Wing)
•Andrew “Drew” Humberstone (Inside Centre, Simon’s younger brother)
•Tom Vooght (Captain & Flanker)
•Ben Henderson (Hooker)
•Alex Seers (Fly Half)
•James Baker (Prop)
Additionally apparently forwards Niall Kidd and Jamie Guttridge were close runners-up.
“Rams’ opening fixture of the season is away at Cambridge who just managed to remain in the third tier (13th) …after their toughest campaign to date.” (Talking Rugby Union)
In their season review Talking Rugby Union said, “Well, what can you say about National Two South champions Rams RFC. They blew the competition away in 2018/19 and went on a run of just one defeat in 21 matches, which included a total of 17 consecutive wins between September and February.” (Talking Rugby Union)
“…Clive is expecting the Reading based side will bring a strong game to Castle Park.
“I am expecting a lot of exuberance, intent and ambition as well, they have worked their way up the leagues and are an ambition club.
They wanted the fixture and to come to Castle Park…” (DRFC website)
The Rams have come up through the leagues and want the opportunity to play at a top Championship ground against aspiring Championship opposition. It will be the best ground that most of them have played at.
Rams pre-season games started with a XV-a-side Festival at their Old Bath Road Ground in Sonning on Saturday 17th August. Teams in the Festival are:
Westcliff RFC (Nat 2 South; level 4)
Chinnor RFC (Nat 1; level 3)
Pontypool RFC (Welsh Championship; Wales’ level 2)
Bournemouth RFC (Nat 2 South; level 4)
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Castle Park Sat 31st Aug, 2019 - 2:30pm
Rams RFC is an English rugby union club based near the village of Sonning on the outskirts of Reading in the county of Berkshire. (Wikipedia)
“The Knights will face National League 1 side Rams RFC in a pre-season fixture on the 31st August.
Based in Reading, the recently promoted side will visit Castle Park on the back of just two defeats in their National 2 South campaign last season.
Known as Redingensians Rams until the beginning of last season, the side will pose a challenge for the Knights with top try scorer and hooker Ben Henderson dotting down 21 times during the 2018/19 campaign.
While winger Jak Rossiter scored 18 tries and Alex Sears managed an impressive points tally of 177 points.” (DRFC website)
The Rams were initially known just as Redingensians before adding Rams and then disposing of the Redingensians name.
As has been mentioned, the Rams were runaway winners of National Two South, some 18 league points above second-placed Canterbury and with a points difference of 311 better (almost double that of Canterbury; they scored 21.4 points/game more).
One of last season’s pre-season opponents for the Knights, Guernsey finished second to bottom in National 1 after winning just eight of their thirty games played. The Rams won 28 of theirs, so we can expect a very different class of opponent when we welcome them to Castle Park. Rugby Paper’s Coach of the Year, Rams’ Head Coach Seb Reynolds will obviously be very keen on taking a respected Championship scalp to add to his impressive achievements.
In addition to Reynold’s Rugby Paper recognition, Six Rams players made the starting 15 for The Rugby Paper National 2 South Dream Team:
•Jak Rossiter (Wing)
•Andrew “Drew” Humberstone (Inside Centre, Simon’s younger brother)
•Tom Vooght (Captain & Flanker)
•Ben Henderson (Hooker)
•Alex Seers (Fly Half)
•James Baker (Prop)
Additionally apparently forwards Niall Kidd and Jamie Guttridge were close runners-up.
“Rams’ opening fixture of the season is away at Cambridge who just managed to remain in the third tier (13th) …after their toughest campaign to date.” (Talking Rugby Union)
In their season review Talking Rugby Union said, “Well, what can you say about National Two South champions Rams RFC. They blew the competition away in 2018/19 and went on a run of just one defeat in 21 matches, which included a total of 17 consecutive wins between September and February.” (Talking Rugby Union)
“…Clive is expecting the Reading based side will bring a strong game to Castle Park.
“I am expecting a lot of exuberance, intent and ambition as well, they have worked their way up the leagues and are an ambition club.
They wanted the fixture and to come to Castle Park…” (DRFC website)
The Rams have come up through the leagues and want the opportunity to play at a top Championship ground against aspiring Championship opposition. It will be the best ground that most of them have played at.
Rams pre-season games started with a XV-a-side Festival at their Old Bath Road Ground in Sonning on Saturday 17th August. Teams in the Festival are:
Westcliff RFC (Nat 2 South; level 4)
Chinnor RFC (Nat 1; level 3)
Pontypool RFC (Welsh Championship; Wales’ level 2)
Bournemouth RFC (Nat 2 South; level 4)
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
