It was deja vu for Ross 2nds in their away league match against Smiths on Saturday, when Smiths scored a late equaliser to put the score at 22 apiece, emulating a game played a few weeks prior, when the score finished 15-15.

Ross were lethargic in the first half, falling behind to an early converted try. Ross scrum half Huw Bellamy got Ross off the mark with a try out wide, which was unconverted.

By half time, Smiths had edged the game by scoring 2 more unconverted tries to leave the score at half time, 17-5.

Ross had much to do in the second period but rallied well, with Bellamy scoring again, by picking the ball up from the base of a ruck on the Smiths line and stretching over to score.

Winger AJ Jenkins got Ross right back into the game with a try on 65 mins, closing the gap to 17-15.

Then, Bellamy scored with what Ross thought was the winner. Ross were camped on the Smiths line with some dogged forward play thanks to Sean Murphy, Dave Lawrence and Jason Oates in the front row and when the ball was put to the backs, the Ross scum half trotted in under the posts for No 10. Ollie Thomas to covert.

Smiths came back at Ross and the pressure eventually told when they went over at the depth to leave the scores at a stalemate, 22 – 22.

The Ross ‘Man of the Match’ was Huw Bellamy for his hatrick of tries.

This week, Ross 2nds are at home to Cheltenham Civil Service in the league.