A first quarter hat trick from centre, Gareth Holdsworth, secured another win for Ross-on-Wye when they played the Old Elizabethans recently, and with rivals for the top spot, Cheltenham North, losing to Dursley, the Ross team have now opened up a four point cushion at the top of the table with five games remaining.

It was the hosts who opened the scoring after five minutes with a penalty, Thai Hayward brought Ross level at 3-3 just minutes later, and territory and possession at this stage were even.

However, within ten minutes, Ross had opened up a 24-3 lead. A late score by the hosts saw Ross go into the break 24-10 ahead.

The hosts lost two front row players early in the second half and this took a bit of the physical intensity out of the game. Ross had been dominant at scrum time and going uncontested did not benefit them one bit, the game lost a bit of structure and both sides were making line breaks but these were too often followed with unforced errors.

Captain, Casey Morgan, added a fifth in the last quarter after some punishing carries from Josh Element, Louis Morgan and Josh Walker got Ross within five yards of the try line. The hosts did hit back with another try but Ross closed the game out 34-15, staying top of the table.

Ross have a week off on Saturday but are back in league action on the 2nd March away to Southmead in Bristol a 2.30pm kick off.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here