Ross RFC 2nds got their league campaign off to a great start, comprehensively beating Cheltenham Civil Service 2nds 12-47 on their own turf.

Things couldn’t have started better for Ross, scoring almost from kick off when No 8 TC Leach broke clear and he passed to scrum half Craig Powell to score. Powell then converted.

Ross were however not in full flow and a series of handling errors enabled Cheltenham to draw level.

Just before the interval, Ross Prop Tim Jefferies cut a superb line to crash over from five yards out.

Ross settled during the second half and were able to get more decent ball to their backs, where tries were for the taking.

Winger Craig Smith grabbed a second half hat-trick, plus drop kicked the extras from one of them.

Fly half AJ Jenkins intercepted a pass to run the full length of the field to score under the posts. Powell converted. Winger Smith then put in centre PJ Muldowney for a try, Powell drop kicked the conversion.

It was an emphatic win for the 2nds, although there is always room for improvement. The team will be up against a sterner side this week, away to Berry Hill in a friendly.

The Drop Inn man of the match was PJ Muldowney.