Match report: Promoted Ellingham & Ringwood RFC sign off in style with 38-27 Hampshire Counties One victory over Sandown & Shanklin RFC

Ellingham & Ringwood gave their fans the perfect send-off to what has been a highly successful season, beating Sandown & Shanklin 38-27 at home on Saturday.

After a relatively slow start to the season, the New Forest side found their groove and exploded up the table. After a brief, back-and-forth battle for second place, Ellingham’s’ head-to-head victory over Gosport & Fareham ended the debate.

First place was never an option, with the champions, Havant Seconds, completing a remarkable 22-game winning run to lift the Hampshire Counties, but Ellingham made second-place their own, earning a 13-point lead over third-placed Basingstoke to achieve promotion.

The Raymond Brown Memorial Game was bathed in sunshine, and a large crowd watched as the visitors brought over several supporters who had enjoyed a hot buffet lunch before the game.

Like many teams Ellingham encountered this season, it was another attritional game, with neither side giving an inch until the 14th minute when the home team had a line-out just inside their 22. The ball was tapped down, and Sandown & Shanklin’s quick-thinking flanker Sam Thomas nipped through a gap in the line-out to score the game’s first try.

Ellingham kicked into gear, with number eight Dan Mallard muscling his way over the line following good exchanges with the forwards and backs. Chris Frost, playing on the wing, converted for the additional two points to give the home team the lead in the 19th minute.

Despite the efforts of both teams, the scoreboard was not troubled again in the first half, so it remained 7-5 to the hosts.

The half-time oranges did the trick for the home team, who were now attacking their favoured Specsavers end of the ground in the 42nd minute.

Outside centre Chris Seaby showed his pace and evaded several tackles to score in the far-right-hand corner of the pitch to extend Ellingham’s lead.

Then, fellow centre Adam’ The Higgo’ Higgins got the home team’s third try of the game in the 44th minute with a strong run from deep to cross the line. This time, Frost was able to add the extra two points.

Then, in the 52nd minute, flanker Dean Smith got in on the act to earn his team a try-scoring bonus point by muscling his way over the line, which Frost converted once again to extend the lead for the hosts.

The visitors were not going to take this lying down. In the 56th minute, they reduced the deficit with their second try, with another converted try following in the 63rd minute to put pressure onto the home side, who by this stage had been reduced to 14 men with flanker James ‘Buffy’ Bovett sent to the bin for handling in the ruck.

Then, Sandown & Shanklin’s scrum-half Michael Barrett crossed the line to get the visitors their fourth try of the game in the 67th minute.

Ellingham sprang back into action, with Hugo Leigh-Watts, playing at full-back for this game, adding to the fine tally of tries he has scored this season, showing his pace and strength to race past the defenders and score the home team’s fifth try of the game.

Leigh-Watts repeated the feat three minutes later, and this time, Frost’s trusty boot did not let him down, so he converted to extend the lead.

The visitors touched down for another try in the dying moments, but Ellingham’s mood would not be dampened.

After the game, the team celebrated their season in various Disney character costumes ahead of an intensive close-season training block ahead of the new season at a higher level.

Ellingham & Ringwood: A. Payne, J. Bovett, T. Sampson, G. Randall, C. Scott, D. Smith, A. Lorton, D. Mallard, S. Veneroso, T. Veneroso, C. Frost, A. Higgins, C. Seaby, L. Harling, H. Leigh-Watts. Subs: T. Johnson, E. Sibley, B. Evans.