Tomlinson catches eye despite new-look Rams defeat

DIRECTOR of rugby Seb Reynolds took plenty of positives despite Rams crashing to a 38-24 home defeat in their opening pre-season game at home to Aberavon, writes Richard Ashton.

The Berkshire side started in breathtaking fashion after handing a plethora of summer signings their debuts, dominating possession and territory and racking up a 24-0 lead as George Breese, Andrew Lamb, Oli Rhoads and Zach Clow all touched down, influential fly-half Mike Cooke with a brace of conversions.

Aberavon got on the board with the final play of the opening stanza, Elis Horgan sniping over, and the Wizards then dominated the second period after both sides made sweeping changes.

A Ben Gregory double brought the visitors back within a score, Charlie Thomas twice on target, and they edged in front when the flanker made it three on the spin after crossing the whitewash. Luke Davies powered over off the back of a maul, and a converted close-range Shay Smallman effort proved the final points of the contest.

A philosophical Reynolds remained in good spirits despite the Welsh fightback, commenting: “It was a game of two halves, there were two different sides for us both, but it was a great pre-season hit out and we’re lucky to have built up this relationship with Aberavon.

“There was a lot of value in it, they had a lot of young lads in the first half and while I was impressed with the way they stuck at it, we were very much on top and perhaps didn’t score as many as we could have.

“But in the second half they brought on a more experienced side and took control of the scrum, the territory, and while they wanted to play a front-foot game, you can’t do that without the ball.”

He continued: “Overall we saw some sublime moments, some fantastic rugby and in a way if you flipped the two halves round and finished the way we did you might be happier, but it’s all part of pre-season. There’s a lot of new faces and we need to bring them together, it will take a bit of time and we’ll have to be patient, but I’m sure it will come.”

One youngster who impressed as an early replacement was inside centre George Tomlinson, the former Worcester Warriors Academy ace who is in his second year at Reading University.

And the head coach beamed: “George caught the eye in the freshers trial last year and he’s been on a fast track ever since, playing Berkshire and South West U20s.

“He’s been fantastic and had a massive impact — he’s a talented footballer and we’re very excited to have him in the team.

“I thought Mike (Cooke) also ran the show nicely, took the ball to the line well and his exits were on point, meaning we could get on the front foot. It was a great first hit for him.”