Ross-on-Wye U14s hosted Tewkesbury U14s on April 3rd. These two teams have become more closely matched over time, as Ross have developed and grown, and this was clearly seen when this game started.

The home side started brightly and played most of the first half in the Tewkesbury half of the field. In fact the first half of the game went very much in Ross’ favour.

Defensively Ross showed great line speed to pressurise the Tewkesbury ball. The Ross forward pack were dominant, not just in scrums but also, in displaying some great gains from mauling.

Effective rucking was also a key feature with Luke Osborne-Ford (No. 8), James Aston (Flanker) and Henry Watkins (Flanker) working hard time and time again. In addition, good line out ball was often won by the Blue and Whites.

The backs were able to exploit these platforms to great effect. Josh Lewis (Scrum Half) and Brad Preece (the Ross No. 10) showed great hands, and speed, to be able to distribute the ball well to the centres.

It was Cameron Ogilvie (Inside Centre) who crashed over the Tewkesbury try line first. This was converted by Ben Pilot (Right Wing). It was Ben who then produced the next score for Ross, finishing a fine move in the corner with a great run. A very difficult conversion was duly dispatched by Ollie Cross (Fullback), Cameron then ran over Ross’ third try and again this was converted by Ben.

The hosts could have had a fourth try but for some sterling last ditch defence which saw the ball held up despite the efforts of Lewis Over (Lock) who carried the ball over the line. A magnificent first period saw Ross enter the break 21-0 ahead.

Half time could not come quickly enough for the visitors who then started the second period as they meant to complete it. Tewkesbury seemed to ‘wake up’ and became far more adventurous, whilst Ross seemed to become a little more complacent and began to look a little weary.

This was the way the second half then developed and the Black and Yellows ran in four tries, two of which were converted to give the visitors all the points in the second half.

This was a keenly fought competition, the game ended as Ross 21:24 Tewkesbury; it was truly a ‘game of two halves’.