It was the home sides' centenary match so a huge crowd was treated to a high scoring game between two attack-minded sides. Being away to the league leaders was always going to be difficult for the Lions but despite being dominated in the set-piece the young Lions side once again showed great character to score four second half tries and leave Berkshire with a well deserved bonus point.

The Lions started brightly and were first to get a scoring opportunity when Luke Bouchier turned down a kickable penalty to kick to the corner. The Lions' confidence was misplaced though as they lost the lineout. Unlike the Lions, the Rams did convert their first opportunity when Tom Vooght crossed from a powerful maul on 12 minutes (5-0).

Luke Bouchier cut the deficit with a penalty on 17 minutes but the rest of the first half belonged to the hosts who's set-piece was causing havoc. The Rams scored two more first half maul tries, firstly through Max Hayman on 24 minutes and then Ryan Lomas on 33 minutes. Fraser Honey converting both scores (19-3).

The Lions did have a rare visit to the Rams 22 towards the end of the first half when their scrum half Ollie Cole was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on, but again the Lions' inability to execute their set-piece let them down.

HT Rams 19 Lions 3

With the home team down to 14 men the Lions would have being eyeing a way back in to the contest but it was the Rams who struck first, just one minute in to the second half, when second row Nile Dacres crossed from close range following a period of pressure having retrieved their own kick off. Again Honey converted (26-3).

The Lions did then capitalise on the extra man with two tries in quick succession, both from midfield line breaks from the impressive Luke Bouchier. First to profit from a good support line was Aaron Pope on 43 minutes and this was followed only 4 minutes later when George Pearson finished out wide. Bouchier converted one to reduce to deficit (26-15).

Momentum was now with the Lions, who's quick attack was causing the Rams defence problems, but a big moment swung the game back in to the home sides favour. Another Lions line break was halted by a knock on by a Rams defender which wasn't spotted by the officials. A couple of carries later, the ball was spilled and Rams full back Zach Clow scooped up the loose ball 5 metres from his own line to break clear and then feed winger Tomek Pozniak to score. Honey added the extras (33-15).

Almost straight after the restart the contest was all but ended when another promising Lions attack was bought to an end when Rams centre Alek Kalling-Smith intercepted deep in his own half and ran the length. Honey converted again (40-15).

To the Lions' credit they did not give up though and with 20 minutes left they set about getting two more scores. Aaron Pope scored his second on 67 minutes following a break from replacement fly-half Tom Threlfall who then converted the score (40-22).

The impressive Rams full-back Zach Clow rounded off a fine afternoon with two superb individual scores in the last 10 minutes which were both converted by Honey, but the Lions were rewarded for their hard work two minutes from time when another replacement, Isaac Thompson, crashed over following good work by the industrious Reuben Logan who carried well all afternoon.

FT Rams 54 Lions 29

Head coach Gareth Collins commented: ''Rams are a great side, and top of the league for a reason, so we can't be too disappointed with a point. It's more than we got here last season so once again it's evidence of our progress. We cannot afford to make so many errors though, especially against such a good side. Ultimately we gave ourselves too much to do to try and come back. There is lots for our young boys to learn from again today but I'm really proud of the character and the attacking intent that we showed to score four tries in the second half.''