With two league games remaining, Ross claimed the league title on Saturday 4th March with a hard fought 13-5 win over their nearest rivals Westbury on Severn. Prior to the game Westbury sat in second place and were hopeful that a victory would keep their title hopes alive. However Ross ensured that 1st place was theirs and left the rest to fight for second place.

Throughout the first half Ross looked tentative, as if the prize of champions was hampering their natural open rugby style. Westbury started strongly, using their forwards to drive hard at the Ross defence, keeping the ball and running through, phase after phase. However the Ross defence, as they have done throughout the season held firm, with Flos Morgan, Mike Davies and Wayne Williams to the fore. With twenty minutes gone the score remained at 0-0, when Ross began to get into the game. However their usual fluidity was missing, errors dominated and Ross were unable to develop their game.

Against the run of play Ross took the lead after 30 minutes. After a Westbury infringement, Chris Gage converted the penalty giving Ross a 3-0 lead, which they held through to half time.

Westbury started the second half as they did the first, dominating both possession and territory. After a scrum against the head, their outside half crashed over to score making the tally Westbury 5 - Ross 3. That score seemed to invigorate Ross, who finally began to play their natural game, with Tara Barnett, Kevan Healy and Nick Brierley beginning to find holes in the Westbury defence. As a consequence the Ross half backs, Simon Gwynne and Andy Hunt began to release the Ross backs. The Westbury defence began to creak and eventually cracked conceding a penalty 40 yards out, which Chris Gage expertly converted giving a 6-5 lead to Ross.

The one point lead seemed to relax Ross and Hugh Bellamy, Wayne Bishop and Alistair Rees began to find gaps out wide, crossing the gain line and stretching the Westbury defence. Dave Mince, Tony Clements and Craig Creed began to take advantage of a tiring Westbury pack. With the game entering the final quarter Ross finally put some breathing space between them and Westbury, with Tim Hans, then Tara Barnett driving hard into the Westbury 22. The ball was moved quickly to Andy Hunt, who held the ball up perfectly, before feeding Adam Clements who had come on a late searing run and crashed over to score under the posts. Chris Gage converted making the score 13-5. Westbury launched one last effort in the closing stages, however the Ross defence was too strong and the ref blew the whistle to confirm Ross as league champions 2005 / 2006.

With two league games remaining, Ross are now looking to go through the season unbeaten and complete a great campaign that's seen Ross play some great Rugby. Ross's next fixture is a friendly away game at Bromyard on 11th March.

Paul Haley