Harborne 19 pts Ross on Wye 6

ROSS missed out on a semi-final spot in the North Midlands after a narrow defeat in a pulsating clash at Haroborne.

"This was a great contest ," said Ross coach Paul Haley. "With both teams aspiring to win this tournament, both played with pace and passion."

Playing into a gusting wind in the first period, Ross twice got into scoring positions but Craig Broughton and Dave Green were unable to hold the final pass.

Against the run of play, however, Harborne scored from a driving lineout to lead 7-0 but Ross hit back to cut the deficit with two penalties from Craig Powell leaving just a single point in it at the turnaround.

Ross may have thought that, with the conditions in their favour, things would now look up but, instead, a two-try burst in three minutes settled the game in Harborne's favour.

An interception try two minutes after the re-start was quickly followed by a fine try from their own 22 and Harborne subsequently defended vigorously against the young Ross squad to hold on to their lead.

Chris Thomas was the man of the match.

Led by chairman Ivan Powell and first XV captain Alistair McColl led members of the squad to Hereford County Hospital for a pre-Christmas visit.

Jamie Humphreys, Tom Ewins and Matt Pritchard were among the players distributing gifts, good wishes and club mementos to the young patients.