The Rams booked their place in the NFC Division 1 Final with a hard-fought 35-27 victory over the Leicester Panthers at Leicester Forest RUFC. In a pulsating playoff semi-final that swung back and forth through a tied first half, Elliot Jackson delivered three rushing touchdowns and Nathaniel Wyse added a score of his own as the Rams pulled away in the second half to seal the win.

The game started in disastrous fashion for the Rams. The Panthers kicked off and a bad snap on the very first play gave the home side the ball back with first and goal. The Panthers capitalised on third down as their number 27 ran it in for the opening touchdown, and the PAT was good to make it 7-0.

The Rams responded with some strong running from Jackson, but the drive stalled and they were forced to punt, with Dan Haywood delivering a good kick. The Panthers moved the ball well out of their own end zone with a mix of run and pass, but Lewis Young stepped up with a crucial interception on fourth down, giving the Rams possession near midfield.

The Rams made the turnover count. Jackson continued to pound the ground and Haywood found Trishmpriyo Sarkar with a pass into the red zone. Then Haywood took matters into his own hands, keeping the ball on a scramble before trucking the cornerback in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown. Sarkar’s PAT was good to level the score at 7-7.

The Panthers went three-and-out to close the opening quarter, and the second period began with both teams trading punts. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave the Panthers good field position, but Nathaniel Derrick came up with a huge play, stripping the ball from the tight end on a screen pass, and the Rams took over at midfield. A holding penalty on the Rams undid a third-down conversion, however, and they were forced to punt again.

The Panthers’ starting quarterback went off injured and their number 27 stepped in at wildcat quarterback. He immediately broke a big run before the original quarterback returned briefly to hand off to 27, who powered in for the touchdown. The PAT was good to put the Panthers back in front at 14-7.

Jackson answered right back with another explosive run that took the Rams into the Panthers’ half, and he finished the job on the very next play, running it in for the score. Sarkar’s PAT was true and the game was level again at 14-14.

The two-minute warning arrived with the game still in the balance. The Panthers were moving the ball well when a tipped pass was caught by a wide receiver, but Robbie Green delivered a thunderous hit that forced a fumble, and the Rams recovered. A hands-to-the-face penalty on the Panthers moved the Rams into opposition territory, but Haywood threw an interception with 30 seconds remaining. The Panthers seized their chance and drove deep into the red zone, but their field goal attempt sailed wide right. The Rams knelt out the clock to take a 14-14 tie into the break.

The second half began with another penalty-driven Panthers possession after a facemask call gave them good field position. But the Rams’ defence stood tall, making a crucial stop on fourth and one to wrestle back possession. Russ Polson was ejected for a second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the sequence, but the Rams channelled any frustration into their offence.

Jackson and Wyse combined for more punishing runs, and Jackson capped the drive by running it in on third down. Sarkar converted the PAT to give the Rams their first lead of the game at 21-14.

The Panthers’ running game was being shut down effectively by the Rams’ front seven. The home side tried a trick play with their running back throwing a pass, but it fell incomplete. A debatable pass interference call gave the Panthers new life, however, and they scored on the ensuing run play. The PAT was good to tie the game once more at 21-21.

Jackson was not to be denied. On second down, he broke loose on another big run and charged into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game. Sarkar’s PAT was no good this time, but the Rams led 27-21.

Daniel Barker delivered a huge sack on third down to force a Panthers punt, and the home quarterback went down injured just before the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Rams. Wyse and Jackson continued to grind out yards as the Rams controlled the clock and marched downfield. Wyse finished the drive with a third-down touchdown run, and then punched in the two-point conversion himself to extend the lead to 35-21.

The Panthers’ number 27 returned at quarterback and was immediately sacked by Kelvin Newsome. Robbie Green then produced a massive tackle on fourth down in the Panthers’ half to force another turnover on downs.

Sarkar’s field goal attempt from distance drifted wide left with just over three minutes remaining, giving the Panthers one last chance. Their number 27 connected with number 10 on a big throw down the sideline, then found number 6 in the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed, making it 35-27.

The Panthers attempted an onside kick, but Derrick was there to claim the loose ball. Jackson picked up a first down and the Rams knelt out the remaining time to seal an impressive road victory and a place in the NFC Division 1 Final.