Securing another Ross win, on their home turf, against promotion rivals Old Elizabethans on Saturday, February 18th means that now, Ross has a real chance of securing a promotion spot at the end of the campaign.

Ross had to work hard for this victory, as the Elizabethan defence was outstanding, but it was the hosts who created more chances. They could, and probably should, have won by more. A couple of early penalty misses by Ross did not calm the nerves, and as the game entered the second quarter it was still nil nil.

Ross, at this stage, looked the more likely team to open the scoring. However, it was the Elizabethans who worked themselves into the Ross twenty two and, after a series of attacks, they found a gap in the Ross defence and went 7-0 ahead.

The half-time break came and went and Ross had still not opened their account. A brilliant training ground move off a scrum put Matt King in the clear, but he was dragged down short of the line.

Minutes later, Thai Hayward, was tackled into touch as the try line beckoned. The pressure on the visitors’ defence did eventually tell, and winger, Craig Smith, got some space wide out on the left, and he cantered in to score, getting Ross on the scoreboard 7-5 down.

The last quarter was a nervy affair as both sides looked for the decisive score, but it was Ross who held their own. They controlled possession and territory, and they earned two late penalties, which centre, Thai Hayward, cooly converted, both making Ross 11-7 victors.

The Maggie Pearce’s man of the match was centre Thai Hayward.