With both sides, once again this winter, fighting the wind and the rain, this game was an error filled encounter, however Smiths Cheltenham just had enough to deliver the win, taking them above Ross-on-Wye in the league standings.

It was Smiths who struck first after 15 minutes; Ross thought they had repelled another Smiths attack by snatching the ball on their own try line and delivering a clearing kick up field. However, it fell to the Smiths’ winger, who evaded two tackles, before scoring wide out on the left. The conversion was missed, but Ross were 5-0 down.

With the wind at their backs, they began to establish some territory and possession in the home team’s twenty two, but the killer pass or drive did not come and Ross had to content themselves with a Marcus Ballinger penalty and went in at half time 5-3 down.

The second half however belonged to the home side. They ran in another two tries and were able to keep Ross at arm’s length throughout the half, and it was not until the last few minutes that Ross were able to mount a concerted attack, battering the home sides line. However, as in the first half, they could not convert into points and the referee’s whistle brought the game to an end with Smiths comfortable 17-3 victors.

The Bosse Interspices man of the match was Josh Elements with some fine ball carries. On Saturday, Ross are away again in Bristol, against Cotham Park with a 2.30pm kick off.