The first league game of the season is always a nervy affair. Every team wants a good start to the campaign and add in the fact that it was Sponsors Day for Ross-on-Wye, then the pressure was on.

The dank wet conditions never cleared up as expected, so conditions were wet under foot. Ross started brightly, getting on the scoreboard early with an Aaron Ryder penalty. The visitors looked strong at scrum time but with ball in hand it was Ross who were dominant. They tested the visitor’s defence to the full, and as the second quarter began, spectators anticiapted a chance to score. Louis Morgan thought it was his after some great build up work from the backline which saw Louis take a well timed pass from scrum half Ben Element. He crashed through two tackles to what he thought was a try but the referee adjudged he had lost control of the ball.

However, Ross’ dominance saw a score quickly after from captain Casey Morgan, which Aaron converted. With the half time whistle looming Ross went the length of the pitch through two phases for Dan Field to score. Aaron added the two and Ross went into the break 17-0 to the good.

Early in the second half Aaron added another penalty to take Ross 20-0 clear. When winger Nathan Cocker outpaced the visitor’s defence to cross and he the presence of mind to run around under the posts. Aaron gratefully added the two to take Ross 27-0 clear.

At this stage of the game it looked as if Ross would cruise to a heavy bonus point win, but the visitors dug deep refused to give in and dominated the last quarter. It was only some well organised and committed Ross defending that kept the visitors from launching a comeback. They did score out wide to get on the scoreboard, but some resolute defence kept the visitors from crossing again and Ross opened their league campaign with a 27-5 win.

Wye Light Commercials man of the match was Henry Tilling, who not only dominated his ball at lineout but disrupted a lot of the visitors ball.

On Saturday Ross 1sts and 2nds are away at Cheltenham.