Counties Two Tribute

Gloucestershire North 
Ross-on-Wye RFC 13

Old Cryptians RFC 38

WHAT started well for Ross soon turned to disaster against Old Cryptains as they were overcome at home after an even first half, reports IAN PHILLIPS.

Ross were on the front foot from the off and a Thai Hayward penalty, swiftly followed by another, made it 6-0.

Old Cryptians responded and scored with a try and a well-taken conversion from out wide to squeeze into a 7-6 lead.

But Ross got their noses back in front when hooker Josh Element broke through and off-loaded to flanker Casey Morgan to score, which Ben Element converted for 13-7.

Old Crypts scored right on half-time though, again converted, to make it 14-13 and all to play for at the break.

But the second half belonged entirely to the visitors, who scored direct from the kick-off and never looked back.

They were constantly managing to break the Ross defensive line with decent angles or through poor tackling.

By mid-way through the period, they had scored another two converted tries and to rub salt into Ross wounds, they intercepted and cantered in from the half-way line.

The hosts were deflated at the final whistle, but must pick themselves up away on Saturday at Smiths RFC, 2.30pm kick-off. Ross man-of-the-match was Josh Element.

Newent secured a bonus point 31-10 win over Cheltenham in Regional Tribute 2 Severn to bounce back from defeat to Trowbridge.

Phil Middlemiss drove over after a midfield intercept just three minutes in. And prop Nathan Awford emerged from a maul to cross for a second as the Green Army led 17-0 at the break.

The Tigers scored a try after the break, but Newent hit back through another turnover, Dan Fletcher putting a deft grubber into the path of wing Jacob Ivell for a 24-5 lead.

And Tom Webb secured a bonus point try selling a dummy in midfled and converting for a personal haul of 16 points.

Cheltenham scored a late consolation try, but Newent finished on top.