Ross’s slim promotion hopes ended on Saturday, March 19th after Ashley Down delivered a convincing victory and saw themselves confirmed as promoted to Glos 1 next season. However, Ross-on-Wye 1sts still have three league games to play and a chance at securing third in the league, which for such a young team would be a great achievement.

After two late player withdrawals on Saturday morning, Ross had to instigate some late changes to their team and this showed early on as the home side scored a penalty and then two quick tries to take a 15-0 lead after 10 minutes. It would have been easy to see heads drop at this point, however Ross tightened up their defence and started to bring some high tempo into the precedings, and began to get into the game.

Scrum half Ben Element nearly got Ross onto the scoreboard but a last ditch tackle prevented him from opening Ross’s account, however after a period of pressure Ross gained a penalty which Thai Hayward calmly slotted through the uprights to put Ross on the scoreboard.

With the half time whistle approaching it was the home team who added a further score to take them into half time 22-3 ahead. Ross started the second half much better than the first; with a dominant scrum and improving lineout they were able to get a foothold in the home team’s half and after some strong ball carrying around the fringes of the ruck, Casey Morgan, broke free of a tackle and scored. Thai was unable to add the two but Ross were 22-8 behind.

Ross continued to look the better side in the third quarter; Thai added another penalty and then, with Ross camped deep in the home side’s twenty two prop Louis Morgan drove over to score wide out on the left, which put Ross back in the game 22-16 down.

Forward momentum was firmly with Ross at this time, however an injury to the home side’s prop brought uncontested scrums, which in an instant took away Ross’s dominance. Ashley Down took full advantage, running in three further scores in the last quarter to see them comfortably home 39-16 winners.

The Bosse Interspices Man of the match was Chris Price for a great game in the tight and the loose. Ross have a break over Easter but are back in league action on April 2nd at Greytree with a 2.30pm kick off, looking to secure that third place finish.