Ross RFC 1sts crushed Stroud side Cainscross on Saturday 50-17 despite have regulars missing from the team proving great depth in the squad.

The first half, however, didn't suggest the score was going to be so emphatic with Ross going into the interval just 19-14 up. Craig Smith, playing at outside centre got Ross off to a flyer, when he left the Cainscross defence for dead to score in the corner.

Craig Powell converted. Caincross drew level following a succession of scrums on the Ross 5 yard line, the Ross pack were penalised and the ref deemed it to be enough of an offence to award a penalty try. Cainscross started to win most of the scrums until Ross coach John Arundal made a tactical change moving Dave Mince into the 2nd row and bringing on young prop Dave Lawrence, which stabled the Ross pack. Craig Smith gained a second try again using his lightening pace, before captain Gavin Oates at No 8 sniped through a hole in the Cainscross pack to score under the posts. An intercepted pass allowed Cainscross to score a 2nd try and just after the break they kicked a penalty bringing the gap between the scores to just 2 points at 19-17.

For the full story please see this week's Ross Gazette.