A HAT-TRICK from South African winger Edmond Leech fired Ross to victory in an exciting North Midlands Vase final at Stourbridge.

The 24-year-old marked his final appearance for the South Herefordshire outfit with a match-winning treble in a hard-fought clash last Sunday.

Cleobury started well and put Ross under intense pressure in the opening stages and Allan Shields missed a 25-metre penalty after six minutes.

Ross took the lead seven minutes later after a kick to touch by Simon Gwynne pinned Cleobury inside their own 22. Ross won the resulting line-out and a good passing movement, involving Gwynne, Luke Gray, and Michael Brine set-up Leech who raced through to score.

Full-back Chris Gage added the conversion to put Ross 7-0 in front.

Cleobury hit back strongly and Dan Bird scored an unconverted try in the 33rd minute.

A slick passing move between Steve Morris, Shields and George Roche presented Bird with the opportunity to dive over the line.

Ross extended their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Leech powered his way to the line and Gage added the extras to send them into a 14-5 interval lead.

Cleobury showed tremendous spirit and Shields cut Ross’ lead to six points with a 20-metre penalty three minutes into the second half.

However, Ross responded and Gray crashed over for an unconverted try in the 58th minute to put the Herefordshire side back in the driving seat.

Ross led 19-8 with just 10 minutes remaining but a misplaced pass was seized upon by Shields who kept the South Shropshire side’s hopes alive with an unconverted try.

Ross wrapped up their triumph in the sixth minute of stoppage time after Leech picked up a loose ball inside the Cleobury 22 to complete his treble.

Gage added the conversion to complete the scoring and seal Ross’ cup triumph.

Ross coach Paul Haley said: “It has been a hard season, our first in Gloucester 1, so it’s nice to get some silverware at the end. We have had some good battles with Cleobury down the years and we respected them today and, fortunately, we prevailed. We knew they were a good side. Our forwards did very well and that enabled our backs to score the tries that won the match.” Ross: Gage, Leech, Brine, Gray (Bellamy 79 mins), Adam Clements (Parker 58 mins), Gwynne, Hunt, Barnett (Anthony Clements 79 mins), Rawlings, Williams (Redman 4 mins), Nelms, Jones, Hanks, Oates, Davies (Mince 58 mins). Replacements not used: Creed, Hunter-Blair.

Cleobury: Manley, Harry Roche, George Roche, Shields, Gready, Morris, Bache, Gittens, Burnham, Banford, Dorrell, Howman, Phillips, Todd, King. Replacements: Heap, Bird, Woodhouse, Harding, Shorter, Brazier.

Referee: Huw Jenkins (North Midlands Society).