Dursley 8 - Ross on Wye 10

After a successful few weeks, Ross Rugby Club 1sts travelled to Dursley on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run to six games and cement their place in the top three of Gloucester Division 1.

On a cold and windy afternoon, Ross started brightly, taking the game to Dursley up front, dominating territory and possession. It seemed that they had gone ahead after 10 minutes, after some strong ball carrying by Tim Hanks and Adam Clements when Dursley infringed. Andy Taylor stepped up to take the penalty and converted. However, the referee failed to give the score.

Undeterred, Ross gathered the twenty-two drop out and set up quality ball for scrum-half, Simon Gwynne, who moved the ball left. Quick hands found Andy Taylor, who delivered a perfect cut-out pass to winger, Huw Bellamy, who stepped outside his opposite winger and outpaced the full-back to score in the corner. The conversion was missed but Ross were 5 - 0 ahead.

With the conditions in their favour, Dursley hit back straight away, converting a penalty and dominating the last quarter of the first half. With half time looming they added their first try, going in at half time 8 - 5 ahead.

However, with the wind at their backs, Ross were confident they could overhaul the three point deficit in the second half. But Dursley started the second half the brightest, buoyed up by their lead. They looked dangerous with ball in hand, thankfully the Ross scramble defence was able to snuff out the Dursley backs. Slowly Ross began to assert themselves up front, as the Dursley front row tired and Ross dominated at scrum time.

This proved the springboard for Ross to dominate territory in the last quarter, although that try was proving hard to find. Twice Ross managed to get the ball over the line, first Matt Redman was held up, then Dave Mince. With the game entering the last five minutes, it looked as if Dursley would hang on. But with the last throw of the dice Ross won a kickable penalty. Instead of going for the draw, they choose to kick for the corner and go for the win.

Nick Rawlings found jumper Matt Jones and Baz Parker then took the ball up into midfield. The ball was recycled, Simon Gwynne went left, feeding Lee Cleaver, who spun out of the first tackle and scrambled over to score in the left hand corner, to put Ross 10 - 8 ahead. There was only time for the kick off before the ref blew his whistle to end the game and Ross had extended their unbeaten run to six games.

The Hagesud Bosse man of the match was Lee Cleaver. Next Saturday, Ross are at home, with a 2.30pm kick off against Old Bristolians in the League.