Ross suffered their second league defeat in a week, despite starting brightly they were no match for the Old Elizabethans at home, who were the deserved winners.

Ross secured the kick off and for the next ten minutes, the team were in complete control of the game, playing sensible rugby, pinning the hosts back into their twenty two. Ross however could not unpick the home teams’ defence and had to be content with an Aaron Ryder penalty, that gave them a 3-0 advantage as they ended the first quarter.

Once the home team got into their stride, Ross’ hold on the game began to evaporate. Elizabethans began to attack with speed and precision.

The Ross defence initially held firm with some strong tackling in midfield and around the fringes. However, after a strong run by Elizabethans’ loose head prop helped them establish possession in the Ross twenty two, they eventually scored wide out on the left to take the lead 5-3.

Elizabethans continued to dominate possession in the last ten minutes of the first half, but this time the Ross defence held firm, and the half time score remained at 5-3 to the home side.

It was crucial that Ross wrestled back control of the game early in the second half. They looked to snatch back the lead and put pressure on the home side, but it was Elizabethans that struck early, scoring another try which this time was converted and they stretched their lead to 12-3.

Ross knew they had to get the next score and began to get themselves back into the game. Some thunderous ball carries by Louis Morgan and Gavin Oates saw them work their way patiently up to the home side’s twenty two.

The ball was moved quickly right, and there was a sniff of an overlap. The home team winger gambled on the interception. He snatched the ball and ran in from 75 yards to score the try which was converted and Elizabethans were 19-3 ahead.

This score killed the game as a contest. Ross continued to be strong with ball in hand but could not generate enough quick ball to threaten the home defence. They lost fly half Aaron to a shoulder injury, which meant they had to revamp the back line which again did not help matters.

The home team cemented their win with a bonus try and, although Ross had the better of the last ten minutes, they could not find their way out of the whitewash and the final score was 26 - 3 to the Old Elizabethans.

There were some strong performances, especially in defence, as Ross had to weather large parts of the game without the ball. Dan Field, Thai Hayward and Louis Morgan all defended admirably, but the Bosse Interspices Man of the match goes to Gavin Oates for a great all round game.