ROSS RFC suffered a disappointing 38-5 home defeat at the hands of third-placed Brockworth in the Counties Two Tribute Gloucestershire North League on Saturday, reports IAN PHILLIPS.

Similarly to the week before, Ross fell behind early on and by 10 minutes were already 14-0 down.

By the interval, the score had blown out to 28-0, but to their credit the hosts re-grouped and put on a far better second half display, securing large amounts of possession.

On two occasions, Ross looked to push the Brockworth scrum over from five yards, but the scrums just rotated enough for the whistle to blow before No 8 Chris Price could down the ball.

Their perseverance did pay off though, when winger Craig Smith intercepted a pass to run the full length of the field to score.

Ross’ man of the match was Craig Beaumont.

Their next game is a week on Saturday (November 26) away to Cheltenham Saracens.

Meanwhile, Newent 1st XV held out to win a 26-25 cliff-hanger against Gloucester visitors Chosen Hill in Regional 2 Tribute Severn, reports FRANK BOWE.

On an unusually warm and bright November day, a game of running rugby was on the cards, and that was exactly what the crowd enjoyed.

After an infringement at a ruck, Newent, and the boot of Tom Webb, took three points to go in front, but several forceful drives, saw the Hill No 8 go over close to the posts.

Then after a Newent attack appeared to break down, Jack Devries found the ball at his feet, kicked it past the first defender, dribbled around the fullback and over the line to score, with the try converted for a 10-5 lead.

Holding up a Chosen Hill maul, gave the home team a good attacking scrum, and second row Peter Joynt went over, with the conversion good, for a 17-5 lead.

Following a ruck infringement Newent prop Nathan Awford was shown a yellow card before a turnover at a defensive ruck saw No 8 Ben Vincent make a 65m break down the right wing, only for the back-rower to be sin-binned moments later after a scuffle, with Hill fly-half Andy King shown a red.

Newent kicked a penalty to make it 21-5 at the break and with a man advantage looked set for a win.

But as the hosts conceded penalties, a well-executed lineout drive saw a Hill player cross unopposed for their second try.

And a peel around the back of the line then resulted in a try for Hill’s second row, with the conversion making it 21-19.

Old stager Ross Webb came on to help steady the ship, but brother Tom was then shown a yellow card for dissent.

And it wasn’t too long before Ross was involved in a “tip” tackle which resulted in him joining his younger brother on the naughty step.

The referee this time, however, brandished a red card, meaning both teams were now a man down, as Hill took the lead 22-21 with a penalty.

Hill then added another three points with a succesful penalty (25-21), and the game was slipping away from the home team.

There was one more twist however as Newent managed to stage an attack and the visitors infringed, conceding a penalty.

Webb quickly took a tap, and Doug Long carried forward and created space for Nathan Brooks to dive over in the corner to make it 26-25 to the hosts.

And there was a collective sigh of relief, followed by a loud cheer, when, after ten minutes of stoppage time, the ball was kicked out and the referee blew the final whistle.

Either team could have won what proved an entertaining game of rugby, but it was Newent who triumphed.