The Rams tumbled to fifth on the ladder after the 4-1 loss in a battle of two young and exciting teams at KC White Reserve.

Rams coach Grant Weir didn't need a stats sheet to tell him where his side lost its way.

"It wasn't one of our better games," he said. "We made three errors and they cost us four runs. We dropped two balls and misfielded another."

Young gun Griffin Weir did everything in his power to lift the Rams.

The starting pitcher sent down seven innings without conceding an earned run.

He also managed two hits and an RBI to be the most influential player in his side.

"If you like pitching it was a good spectacle," Grant Weir said of the starters of both teams.

"He did a really good job on the mound."

Reliever Jordan Young finished off the last two innings for the Rams. Like Weir, he also had two hits in a well-rounded performance.

Shortstop Matthew Lawman was the stand-out fielder for the Rams.

The seasoned campaigner, who spent the off-season playing in the Czech Republic, produced a commanding performance in the diamond.

"He made two plays that noone else in the team would be able to do," Weir said.

The Rams are not too stressed about the damage to their wins-loss column.

The youth-driven side has exceeded its preseason expectations so far and is well advanced in its development.

Weir said that as long as the process was followed to the nth degree, he was not fussed about results.

"We're really pleased; we've seen some real improvement. There is real upside to us and it might play itself out over two or three years."

Weir said the Rams, on the whole, were thriving this summer. They have 127 kids involved in their junior program and five senior teams.

"Part of my job is to make sure we create a good club culture."