Ross on Wye won the North Midlands Vase for the fourth time and retained their title with a 41-12 victory over Dudley Wasps at Dudley Kingswinford’s Heathbrook ground today.
Although Ross play their league rugby in the South West, where they won the Gloucester Two title this season, they remain a proud North Midlands club and they are most successful club in the Vase since the competition was introduced in 2006.
They were given the perfect start when blindside flanker Christopher Thomas crossed for the opening try after just a minute, rounding off a flowing attack from the kick-off.
Ross scored 1,194 points and conceded only 100 in winning their league and they demonstrated why with some crisp handling and excellent support play which produced the second try for tighthead Louis Morgan. Full-back Thai Hayward added the conversion.
A well-worked move down the short-side of a line-out saw hooker Josh Element cross for an unconverted try midway through the first half and after two near-misses, Ross breached the Dudley defence again just before half-time.
Dudley had difficulty winning their own line-out ball which meant they put themselves under increasing pressure in defence and when Ross were awarded a feee kick, number eight Gavin Oates powered over for the try and Hayward converted.
Dudley pulled back seven points on the stroke of half-time when scrum-half James Jefferson rounded off an attack started by a burst from number eight Chris Handley and George Ingram added the extras.
But any thoughts of a sustained Dudley fightback were quickly snuffed out. Oates made his physical presence felt again when he went over for his second try and centre Matthew King, who took over the kicking duties, converted.
Ross scrum-half Marcus Barnard then scored a superb individual try when he took a quick tap penalty on half-way and raced away for an unconverted score.
Ross rounded off their scoring when Dudley made an abortive attempt to attack from deep, turned over possession and CraigSmith picked up and touched down.
Dudley had the last word when George Morgan went over from close range with the final play of the match.
Yardley & District won the North Midlands Vase Plate b beating Greyhound 28-11 in an entertaining final.
Yardley we’re behind until just before half-time when scrum-half Anthony Hughes went over for a try converted by Dan Bancroft.
A drop goal from Lee Connor helped Yardley extend their lead with centre Liam Barnett and loosehead prop Justin Kearns scoring second half tries.