Rams fall short of record points tally

Eight different Rams players crossed the whitewash and there were hat-tricks for both Austin Buchanan, who went on to grab a fourth and fifth, and James Craven.

Despite holding firm during the opening quarter, the visitors fell away in the run up to half-time and the Tetley’s Stadium floodgates were forced wide open.

The Rams took six minutes to get the scoreboard ticking but close to 20 minutes passed before they crossed the whitewash again.

Crusaders had done a good job of slowing the Rams’ early onslaught but they began to fall apart as Buchanan touched down for his first try virtually uncontested.

The winger had completed his hat-trick within nine minutes and matters worsened for Crusaders as George Flanagan, fresh from the replacements bench, bagged a double before returning Rob Spicer touched down for a well-deserved try.

Full-back Craven and Ryan Esders completed the first-half rout with back-to-back tries.

Crusaders hit back from a Billy Harris try, early in the second half, to finally get themselves off the mark.

Despite another Thatto try, on 56 minutes, a comeback was never on the cards.

Warren Jowitt’s team placed both feet firmly on the accelerator pedal and romped to victory.

Buchanan completed a five-try haul, Michael Wainwright ran the length of the field and Craven scored twice in as many minutes to complete the one-sided thrashing.