Sat 30 Oct 2021, 14:15
Ramsey beat Vagabonds 27-3 at the Mooragh Park in a much closer game than their last meeting. The lead was just 5-3 after half an hour and a Ramsey three try blitz just before half time effectively ended the game.
Ramsey started with a huge scrum shunt to drive Vagas off their own ball. This led to a penalty lose to the Vagas line and Ramsey opted unsurprisingly for the scrum. This time though it was the Vagas eight who fared better and a wheeled scrum earned them a penalty to clear the lines. After eight minutes they’d worked their way downfield with two big carries from number eight Nathan Gibson. Ramsey went offside at the final ruck and left an easy penalty for Luca Simmons who put Vagas 3-0 ahead.
Five minutes later though, Ramsey got their noses in front. A five metre line out gave a catch and drive opportunity. Eddie Lord took the catch and the Ramsey forwards drove him for the line. The thrust was halted just short and the ball was moved wide where Neil Long was able to hold onto possession until Callum Clague arrived to dive in for the try. The next twenty minutes were however scoreless. Both defences grafted hard in the autumn sunshine and chances were few and far between. Cam Findlay looked like he might have sneaked over for Vagas but he was tripped of possession before he could ground the ball.
With thirty two minutes showing on the stopwatch, Ramsey exploded into life with three quick tries. Dan Bonwick, who had a hand in all three, started the first with a quickly tapped penalty. The ball was shipped wide to the right, then swept back left where some need interplay saw Rory Nicholson send in scrum half James Wren. Four minutes later it was Bonwick again. This time, as the Vagas defence rushed up, he put in a pinpoint kick to the left wing. Brandon Atchison raced off in pursuit and the ball bounced perfectly to allow him to gather without breaking stride. His speed carried him clear of the last defender and Ramsey were 15-3 in front.
In the final play of the first half Ramsey claimed their try bonus point. An attacking five metre line out was secured by Callum Clague and this time Vagas couldn’t hold the drive. The Ramsey pack wrestled its way to the line and Dan Bonwick joined in to add an extra man. He ripped the ball clear and dotted it down for the score, which he converted himself to leave Ramsey 22-3 in front at the interval.
Early in the second half both sides were reduced to fourteen men after Ramsey’s Bonwick and Vagabonds’ Findlay were both sinbinned following some off the ball handbags. The extra space just worked better for Ramsey. As they attacked on the hour mark, a yawning gap in the Vagas midfield opened up for Ramsey skipper Matt Meechan. He lit up his afterburners and accelerated through it with virtually a clear run to the line for the only score of the second half to give Ramsey a 27-3 win.
Ramsey started with a huge scrum shunt to drive Vagas off their own ball. This led to a penalty lose to the Vagas line and Ramsey opted unsurprisingly for the scrum. This time though it was the Vagas eight who fared better and a wheeled scrum earned them a penalty to clear the lines. After eight minutes they’d worked their way downfield with two big carries from number eight Nathan Gibson. Ramsey went offside at the final ruck and left an easy penalty for Luca Simmons who put Vagas 3-0 ahead.
Five minutes later though, Ramsey got their noses in front. A five metre line out gave a catch and drive opportunity. Eddie Lord took the catch and the Ramsey forwards drove him for the line. The thrust was halted just short and the ball was moved wide where Neil Long was able to hold onto possession until Callum Clague arrived to dive in for the try. The next twenty minutes were however scoreless. Both defences grafted hard in the autumn sunshine and chances were few and far between. Cam Findlay looked like he might have sneaked over for Vagas but he was tripped of possession before he could ground the ball.
With thirty two minutes showing on the stopwatch, Ramsey exploded into life with three quick tries. Dan Bonwick, who had a hand in all three, started the first with a quickly tapped penalty. The ball was shipped wide to the right, then swept back left where some need interplay saw Rory Nicholson send in scrum half James Wren. Four minutes later it was Bonwick again. This time, as the Vagas defence rushed up, he put in a pinpoint kick to the left wing. Brandon Atchison raced off in pursuit and the ball bounced perfectly to allow him to gather without breaking stride. His speed carried him clear of the last defender and Ramsey were 15-3 in front.
In the final play of the first half Ramsey claimed their try bonus point. An attacking five metre line out was secured by Callum Clague and this time Vagas couldn’t hold the drive. The Ramsey pack wrestled its way to the line and Dan Bonwick joined in to add an extra man. He ripped the ball clear and dotted it down for the score, which he converted himself to leave Ramsey 22-3 in front at the interval.
Early in the second half both sides were reduced to fourteen men after Ramsey’s Bonwick and Vagabonds’ Findlay were both sinbinned following some off the ball handbags. The extra space just worked better for Ramsey. As they attacked on the hour mark, a yawning gap in the Vagas midfield opened up for Ramsey skipper Matt Meechan. He lit up his afterburners and accelerated through it with virtually a clear run to the line for the only score of the second half to give Ramsey a 27-3 win.
