Rams Colts retain Division One title

MAN-of-the-match Charlie Burton believes team spirit was key after Rams Colts retained their OBB Division One title with an epic 22-20 home win against previously unbeaten Windsor.

In an outstanding advert for youth rugby, the hosts took the lead as Matt Cox converted a Jack Mander try, only for their opponents to defy the sending off of Will Rider to make it a two-point game at half-time, Lawson Horley touching down.

Despite also being temporarily reduced to 14 men after Matt Hill was sin-binned for a high tackle, Rams started the second half well with Ryan Carr crossing the whitewash, Cox with the extras, before Lucas Hayes-Garcia grabbed Windsor’s second five-pointer.

A Cox penalty from the restart made it 17-10, but the visitors hit the front after Jowan Bailey added to a Lockie Lee try and then kicked what looked like being a match-winning penalty.

Although Mander also saw red for an off-the-ball incident, Rams conjured a moment of magic when Carr raced in from 45 metres out, Oratory School vice-captain Burton then making yet another crucial tackle to stop Horley at the death before his school skipper Cian Tappan forced a skin-saving turnover and back-to-back league triumphs.

Following an extraordinary battle in the spring sunshine, pre-season addition Burton admitted: “It’s always tough against Windsor and even more so with it being a title decider, but we’re very happy to come out with the win.

“It’s a great group of guys and the team spirit is helped so much by head coach Dave Cox. He’s a genuine bloke who truly cares about everyone and he’s been doing it forever, so it’s nice to get it done.”

Number eight Tappan was equally delighted with the victory and hailed star man Burton, adding: “We’ve been playing together for a while at school and have a bit of chemistry, we get on well and it was all about the heart from the team at the end.

“It was an unbelievably physical game and after 10 minutes I felt finished, it was like we’d already played 80, but you just have to keep going. The way Ryan finished his second try was unbelievable – I was lying down on the floor on the other side of the field but the backs did their thing!”

“When I joined last season, I knew straight away the whole ethos of the club is special, and it’s just great to be a part of it. We’re so happy.”