Ross continued their unbeaten start to the league and cup season with a regulation win over Painswick, running in six tries which gave them a winning bonus point and kept them third in the table, one point behind leaders Smiths Rugby.

Ross was in control for most of the game, they were first out of the blocks and nearly scored in the first minute, as some strong running and quick hands saw them surge deep into the Painswick half, however, the final offload went to ground and the try went begging. Thai Hayward opened the scoring after another fine handling move by forwards and backs, which put him in just enough space to score in the corner. This put Ross 5-0 ahead. The home side did not lie down and a difficult half hour followed as they frustrated Ross with some good tackling. This combined with Ross, uncharacteristically, not finding that scoring pass.

Matt King thought he had scored but was held up, then five minutes later he took a quick penalty burst through a tackle to score. However, the referee had blown for the home side not being back ten metres, denying Matt a try. Then it was scrum half Ben Element’s turn to be held up after bursting off the back of a five metre scrum. With half time looming Ross added another score as flanker Gavin Oates got on the end of another great handling move to cruise over to score. At half time it was 10-0 to Ross.

An early Painswick second half try could have made this an interesting encounter, but Ross upped the pace and tempo of the game in the second half. The home side tried their best to slow the game down but whenever Ross kept the ball for four or fives quick phases they made significant ground and the tries came. Marcus Barnard got on the end of some slick passing to score and the front three of Louis Morgan, Jonnie Baynham and Josh Element gave their opposite numbers a torrid time at scrum time. The next score was a penalty try after three scrum penalties and a yellow card. When the scrum went down for the fourth time the referee had no option but to award a try.

Within minutes the forwards had added another, with a well organised driving lineout by Josh Element. The best score was from Matt King, a great lineout taken by Henry Tilling some 35 yards out was in one pass, moved into the midfield. Centre Dan Field hit the ball at pace and burst through a huge gap with the defence flat-footed, only their fullback reacted and managed to track back to prevent Dan scoring, but he offloaded to centre partner Matt King, who swallow dived over to score, and with two Aaron Ryder conversions Ross ran out comfortable 34-0 victors.