Ross toughed it out another crucial victory against Southmead on Saturday taking themselves eight points clear of the relegation zone. With only three league fixtures remaining it looks as if Ross have secured their place in Glos Premier for another season.
With a win so critical to Ross Premiership survival it was important they started well. From the kick off Ross quickly established play in the Southmead half and were ahead after ten minutes. Player-coach Lee Cleaver, who outpaced the defense, scored, but Casey Morgan missed the conversion. Ross continued to pressurise Southmead and looked in control of the encounter. However an intercepted pass deep in the Southmead half, set up a series of rucks from which Southmead scored. At half time both teams were level at 5-5. In the third quarter Ross had a number of chances to take the lead but some nervy passing meant that these came to nothing and as the game entered the last quarter the score was still 5-5
With less than 15 minutes remaining Ross scored what was to be the winning score from a Southmead scrum. Substitute scrum half, Huw Bellamy scagged his opposite number at the back of the scrum, driving him back five yards. He moved the ball quickly to the left to Lee Cleaver who ran the 50 metres to score in the corner, giving Ross a 10-5 lead. Ross played out the last 15 minutes to secure a crucial win.
The Premier Catering Man of the match was Lee Cleaver for his two tries.