ROSS 1st XV stayed true to their convictions on Saturday. They kept the ball alive and in play, continually looking to put players into space and eventually it paid dividends, as they delivered a crucial bonus point win against one of their promotion rivals.

Aretians had definitely come looking for an away win, their flyhalf used his boot intelligently in the first quarter, pegging Ross back in their twenty two. With territory, they were able to bring their big ball carriers into the game, testing the home defence's bravery and organisation. When Ross were able to wrestle the ball from the visitors, they looked to run the ball rather than kick for territory. This high risk strategy did not bear fruit in the first half and errors gave the ball back to the home side, the pressure eventually told as they scored two quick tries to take a 12-0 lead.

Ross, however, did not panic. Their scrum began to assert itself, which is a tribute to Luke Ward, Craig Boughton and Dave Green. Outweighed by at least two stone a man, they still managed to exert great pressure on the away scrum as the game progressed.

See the full match report in this week's Ross Gazette.