Ross started the day unbeaten on Saturday, October 22nd, looking to cement themselves in the top two of the Gloucestershire League Division 2, and a chance to push for promotion in the spring. However, Old Colstonians were in the same frame of mind, and Ross had a terrible start, and then left it too late to make a comeback.

Within a couple of minutes, the visitors were ahead, their fullback danced through a few tackles before putting their winger in the clear. He ran in unopposed to score, fortunately the conversion was missed, but Ross found themselves 5-0 down within minutes of the kick off.

To Ross’s credit they quickly wrestled back control of the game, establishing territory and possession deep in the visitors half. They more than matched the Colstonians in endeavour and physicality, but they could not bring the composure needed to get on the scoreboard.

Twice Aaron missed penalties and, on numerous occasions they created the space out wide, but the fluency in attack that had been so apparent in earlier games was lost.

The importance of this game was having an effect. Eventually the territory and possession told, and Aaron converted a penalty after 30 minutes to get Ross on the scoreboard, 5-3 down.

Ross continued to dominate territory and possession, but it was the visitors who scored next. A Ross fumble on the visitors’ ten yard line was pounced on by the Colstonians.

Two passes later, their centre was scoring unopposed under the posts, and Ross went in at half time 12-3 down.

Once again, in the second half, the visitors were the first to score, extending their lead by three, to 15-3.

Ross refused to give in, and through endeavour and physicality, they began to dominate possession and then territory, and this time they made sure they troubled the score board.

First, after a well worked lineout catch and drive, Josh Element crashed over to score and to put them only 15-8 behind. Then his brother, Ben, got in on the act brushing off three tackles to score under the posts. Thai Hayward added the two, and with ten to go the scores were level 15-15.

Ross players camped in the visitors twenty two; Thai Hayward just missed to the left with a penalty, but Ross did not let up, and again and again they crashed into the visitors’ defence.

It seemed inevitable a score would come, and it did. Ross knocked on deep in the visitors’ twenty two, Colstonians collected the ball and kicked it deep into the Ross half.

Marcus Barnard, the Ross wing, was first to the ball but he was engulfed by three Colstonian attackers. They won the ruck ball and moved it quickly right, and their winger scored under the posts. They added the two, and with just a minute left on the clock there was not enough time for Ross to hit back.

There were a number of Ross forwards who put their hands up for man of the match, but it was Chris Price who carried the ball again and again over the gainline that deserved the accolade.

This week Ross are again in league action away to Old Elizabethans of Bristol.