Preview Titans away at Rams

On paper a visit to Reading to play high-flying Rams should be a tough gig for Taunton this weekend. Rugby is not played on paper though and the Berkshire side will be getting jittery about a Titans outfit that has won several games recently and, having climbed out of the relegation spots, will be determined to continue the fight for safety. Rams are hoping to secure promotion to The Championship and lead National League One on merit but they will surely be wary of the banana skin that is the visit of Tony Yapp’s side.

Last time out Taunton enjoyed a stellar win over Darlington Mowden Park in front of a boisterous (or should that be girlsterous?) Ladies Day crowd at Veritas Park, bagging the bonus point for four or more tries in the process. Meanwhile Rams succumbed to a rare defeat in the West Country, losing narrowly at Plymouth Albion. Are the nerves starting to show for the league leaders? Perhaps it’s time to start peeling the skins off those Somerset bananas.

From Sonning, close to Reading, Rams were promoted into National League One for the first ever time just a year before Taunton’s own elevation to that level. The club was formed in 1924 by former pupils of Reading School and was called Old Redingenians RFC. In time the playing numbers no longer reflected the school’s alumni and the name changed simply to Redingensians. The nickname Rams, derived from the animal featuring on the coat of arms of Reading, became the formal name of the club in 2018 and, with London Irish moving from the Madejski Stadium to Brentford, Rams is proudly the leading rugby club in town.

Titans can take heart by recalling Rams’ last visit to Somerset. In a thriller, the home side lost out by just three points, 24-27. It was an encounter where the forward packs were well-matched but a more clinical back division prevailed for Rams. At that stage, however, Titans were finding ways to lose games and confidence was low. That scenario has been flipped on its head and there’s now plenty of belief in the Taunton changing room that they can front up to any side in the division.

Rams’ Director of Rugby and Head Coach Seb Reynolds has assembled quite a unit at the Old Bath Road club. Amongst them will be one familiar face. Dan Swain moved on from Veritas Park last summer and has made quite an impression in the second row for Rams. Amongst his team-mates, fly-half Drew Humberstone and his brother Tom both played for Oxford University in last year’s Varsity Match and Rams captain Robbie Stapley is on red-hot form at Number 8.

Entrance to Rams RFC at Old Bath Road in Sonning, a couple of miles to the North East of Reading is £15.00 per adult for ground entry whilst Under 18s enjoy free entry. A two-course lunch is available before the game (and must be pre-booked) for £35.00 which includes the match ticket. Email Rams’ Events and Hospitality Manager at info@ramsrugby.com to book the pre-match lunch. There is limited parking at Old Bath Road and it must be booked in advance for £10 per car via the Rams Rugby website. Kick-off is at 3.00pm.

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