Ross-on-Wye RFC 1sts got back to their winning ways on Saturday, November 14th with a hard fought win over league newcomers Smiths.

Conditions were always going to play a significant part in the outcome, with heavy rain throughout the morning and the game, making it difficult to control the ball through a number of phases. This brought the scrum into play from the off and, even though Ross were the smaller pack, the tight five of Dave, Lewis, Luke, Ali and Henry quickly established the upper hand, which they used to great effect throughout the game.

It was the visitors who got on the scoresheet. First Ross infringed thirty yards from their try line and the Smiths ten slotted the penalty to give them a 3-0 advantage after ten minutes.

With the set piece working well, Ross began to get into the game in the second quarter, establishing territory deep in the visitors half. Smiths found it difficult to escape their twenty two.

Initially the Smiths defence held firm as Ross began to up the anti, however possession and territory was bound to tell in the end and Josh Element crashed over in the corner after a great offload from Marcus Ballinger; the conversion was missed but Ross went in at halftime 5-3 ahead.

The third quarter was a tense affair; both sides were looking for that crucial score. Twice, Ross went close, Craig Smith nearly got on the end of a delicate kick through from Marcus, and after a well worked line out Josh Element lost control of the ball over the line, but Smiths hit back and a great drop goal from forty yards out put them 6-5 ahead.

Chay Brine hit back with a penalty to put Ross 8-6 ahead, but Smiths replied with a penalty of their own to take a 9-8 lead, with fifteen minutes to go.

Ross did not panic though, they established territory in the Smiths half, and another great chip kick behind the defence from Casey Morgan saw Marcus Ballinger stoop to collect a slippery bouncing ball in one movement to score. Chay Brine added the two and Ross were 15-9 ahead.

The last ten minutes were nailbiting; Smiths hit back hard looking for that winning try and conversion. Two Ross players fell foul of the referee’s patience, and were sin binned, so Ross had to hold out for the last five minutes with thirteen men.

As Smiths bombarded their line, to a man they stepped up, putting their bodies on the line. A turnover won them a scrum and, with time up and with two forwards light, they won the ball. Captain Casey Morgan cleared the ball into touch. This hard fought victory puts Ross back into third place in the league.

The A Davies Construction man of the match was centre Marcus Ballinger who was solid in defence and industrious in attack capping off a great display with a well taken try. Next Saturday Ross are away in Bristol to Aretians a 2.30pm kick off.