Honey so sweet in tightest battle

By BAZ JOHNSON

Dings Crusaders…36

Rams…………………… 44

DINGS stepped ahead with an early penalty, but were tested throughout the game with infringements and Fraser Honey’s boot.

Dan Swain was the first to cross for Rams, and Dings replied, with a driving maul gifting Kofi Cripps.

Rams attack was then broken by Sol Taufa, to give Harry Rowson the freedom to score.

Honey’s boot continued to punish the home side through Tom Vooght.

Towards the end of the half, the midfield play was anyones. but it was Robbie Stapley who broke the deadlock.

Crusaders fought back through another line break with Rowson in again to end the half 24-28.

Rams immediately applied pressure after the restart, with Dings’ downfall the haemorrhaging of penalties allowing Rams to live off Honey’s boot. The next 5m maul resulted in Stapley scoring his 102nd try, breaking the Rams club record.

Brian Ncube saw yellow and Dings, with 14, put pressure on the Rams’ tryline as Jimmy Halliwell scored.

Axel Kalling-Smith then added to the Rams’ score. With Dings Ncube cancelling yellow with a try it brought Dings to within seven, but it was Honey who put Dings under with a final penalty.