ROSS obtained the local derby bragging rights and another league victory to boot, by securing the win against Westbury with a three try burst in the third quarter.

Westbury brought a big pack to the game and looked to dominate upfront, whilst Ross were better with ball in play and in hand; the contrast in styles could not have been more stark. For the vast majority of the first half, Ross were not able to impose their game on the visitors. Westbury were able to slow the play down, and this half was dominated by scrums and lineouts.

Westbury camped themselves in the Ross twenty two and if it wasn’t for the heroic Ross defence in the last 10 minutes of this half, they would have gone into half time behind. However, they held firm and at the break neither side had troubled the scorers.

Some soul searching at half time definitely seemed to do the trick in the third quarter as Ross became braver; running the ball back from deep, whereas in the first half they had been content to kick for touch. The Ross team were more dynamic and it wasn’t long before they opened their account.

Josh Morgan nearly scored after some quick hands within Ross’s twenty two put him away. The cover defence then managed to tackle him into touch, but within a few minutes, Ross were 7-0 up.

Good approach work from forwards and backs put Billy Hambling in an open space. Billy’s pace did the rest and his under the posts score enabled Thai Hayward to add the two.

It is amazing what a score can do for confidence. Ross were now unrecognisable from their first half display; with forwards and backs running hard and direct at the Westbury defence and offloading in their tackle. It was inevitable that another score would come; this time it was Huw Bellamy who finished off a move that saw Ross run and offload the ball from well within their own half.

Thai added a great touchline conversion and Ross were 14-0 ahead. Westbury were now chasing shadows and Ross was playing with confidence, skill and dynamism. Within minutes, Ross was 21-0 up.

Thai had to leave the field with a cut to the head, but a great move was finished off by Josh Element after a well timed pass from his brother, Ben. Huw Bellamy added the two.

Within a 15 minute period Ross had closed down the game with a three try burst. Westbury replied later on with a scrum penalty try, but Ross comfortably held on to register another league victory.

The Baldwin Developments man of the match was Josh Morgan, for another dynamic display in defence. On Saturday, Ross are playing away to league leaders Gloucester Spartans.