Ross-on-Wye 46 - Cheltenham Civil Service 5Ross produced a highly skilled performance last Saturday, running in eight tries and easily seeing off the challenge of an energetic Cheltenham side. The team has now moved up to fourth in the league as the promotion battle for the top two promotion slots hots up.

It was the visitors who started the strongest, setting up a 20 yard lineout drive from their first lineout. They won a penalty and found themselves deep in the Ross twenty two. The Ross pack were able to repel another lineout drive and as the contest settled down it was Ross who exerted control in attack and defence, controlling possession and, as result, territory.

Ross were ahead within ten minutes. Direct running from a series of quick rucks had sucked in enough of the Cheltenham defence and some accurate passing in midfield created the overlap. Fullback, Huw Bellamy timed his pass to perfection and Craig Smith ran in the score from 15 yards out. Aaron Ryder converted from the touchline and Ross were 7-0 up. They extended the lead within five minutes with Craig Smith repaying the compliment with a well timed offload to Huw, who ran in the try. Aaron just missed the conversion but Ross were 12-0 ahead and in control of the game.

Cheltenham were enterprising when they got their hands on the ball, however the home side’s scrambled defence was good enough to sniff out any thoughts of a Cheltenham score. As the half came to a close flanker, Gavin Oates, added another score as he outpaced the covering defence to score wide out on the right, Aaron just missed the conversion and Ross went in at the break 17-0 ahead.

Ross did not take their foot off after the break, in fact they exerted even more control on proceedings. Cheltenham threw everything they had at Ross but their defence held firm.

Mistakes came thick and fast and, as a result, so did the tries for Ross, Marcus Barnard finished off two great moves to score two great tries. Craig Smith finished a great handling move wide out on the right to take Ross 34-0 up after 60 minutes, but Ross had not finished.

Scrum half Ben Element scampered around the blindside from a five metre scrum and had the presence of mind to keep the right side of the far touchline to score. The last score was a forwards try from a five metre lineout. Josh Walker rose to claim the ball, the maul was set and then came the drive, splintering the defence and seeing Josh Element crash over to score. Aaron added the two and Ross were 46-0 ahead.

Cheltenham did rally to add a score but Ross were comfortable winners 46-5. No single player could be chosen as man of the match this was a clinical professional team performance with every player doing his job. On Saturday Ross travel to Bristol to take on Kingswood.