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On Saturday Ross 2nd XV travelled to Merit table leaders Bromsgrove and returned with an outstanding 22 19 victory. From the kick off Ross quickly started attacking Bromsgrove. With Craig Creed turning over Bromsgrove ball it was quickly recycled to Powell, swift hands saw the outside half find fullback Gage who straightened his run to cross the gain line and add 30 metres before being halted by some fine defence by Bromsgrove.
Ross now had the upper hand and kept on attacking at every opportunity. Against the run of play Bromsgrove mounted an attack from their own 22 after some fine passing and some poor defending a try was scored under the posts, with the conversion added Ross found themselves 7 0 down. Not downhearted by this Ross continued to adopt the attacking game. After a fine break Gage kicked upfield, the ball was closed down by Creed who in turn shipped a fine offload to Rawlings to finish off a fine try with a 15 metre sprint to the line. With half time approaching both sides cancelled out each other to leave the score 7 to 5 in Bromsgroves favour at the break.
Ross started off the second half in the worst possible way conceding a converted try within 10 minutes. Once again Ross bounced back.
Fine work by the backrow of Creed, Hayward and Christopher secured the ball for Powell, a swift pass found outside half Andy Bevan and with a mixture of pace and power scored a fine try which was converted by Gage to bring Ross back into the game at 14 12. By now Bromsgroves larger pack started to dictate the play around the rucks and mauls using the tight head prop to batter the Ross defence. After 10 minutes of intense pressure Ross finally bowed to the onslaught . Once again it was Bromsgroves tight head who at last breeched the Ross line to score under the posts .Feeling a little bit to sure of himself the kicker missed the conversion to still give Ross a sniff of a result. Now with only 10 minutes to go Ross gave it a last effort. Good driving up field by the forwards caused Bromsgrove to infringe at the ruck a penalty was awarded and Gage stepped up to convert the 40 metre kick at the posts.
Ross now only 4 points adrift had a sense off an upset. Bromsgrove kicked off deep into the Ross half, the ball was fielded by Powell and with speed and skill outsmarted 4 Bromsgrove defenders. when eventually tackled the ball was made available for the tireless Chris Gage who beat the final defender before falling across the try line to give Ross the lead for the first time in the match. With the conversion added by Gage and the game in the last minute Bromsgrove kicked long into the Ross half again. this time the ball was caught by Gage who knew time was up and launched a 60 metre kick up field and with the little bit off luck that Ross had earned saw a nice bounce find touch in the Bromsgrove 22 to end a thrilling game.
This weeks man of the match could off been any one off 15 but with a solid game in defence as well as attack plus a total of 1 try 2 cons and 1 penalty the Walford Timber man off the match was fullback Chris Gage.
Next saturday Ross 2nd XV are at home versus Malvern in the Merit table KO 2 .30pm.
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