Match report: Ellingham & Ringwood RFC scored five tries against league-leading Havant RFC II
Ellingham & Ringwood took on league leaders in a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday, eventually taking a bonus point in a 59-29 loss while looking to hand Havant seconds their first defeat of the season.
The game started at a frantic pace, with both teams spinning the ball out to their backs to give the crowds the spectacle of free-flowing rugby.
Prop Mike Treloar returned to the first team, making an impressive start to the game, stealing some line-out balls and making his usual powerful runs through the field. Unfortunately, this impact was short-lived, and Treloar sustained a rib injury after the first scrum of the game and had to leave the pitch after eight minutes.
The home team started to apply the pressure, and with some quick passing through the hands, the ball went out to the wing for the first try of the game after ten minutes, which was duly converted.
Winger James Wise finished off a fine move to score Havant’s second try before, four minutes later, the home team stretched their lead with another try.
Ellingham fought back, with number eight George Randall powering over in the 22nd minute to put the visitors on the scoreboard following good work from the forwards. Chris Frost, playing on the right wing, converted the kick to reduce the deficit.
Rather than sparking a revival, the home team extended their lead within three minutes with another well-worked try that was converted.
With four minutes of the half left, some fine passing from the Ellingham backs released Randall, who smashed over in the far corner to get Ellingham’s second try of the game.
Havant showed why they are unbeaten all season with their relentless running rugby, which proved difficult for the visitors to contend with. Winger Chris Buckett scored their fifth try to make it 31-12 going into the second half.
Within eight minutes of the restart, Havant scored two converted tries.
During this period of play, prop George Guy – who came on to replace the injured Treloar – had to leave the field following a ferocious tackle towards the end of the first half.
With Ellingham down to 14 players and Frost off the pitch after an offside, debutant Daniel Jackson, playing at flanker, powered his way over the line to score Ellingham’s third try of the game, which fly-half Tom Veneroso converted.
Havant were relentless and soon added two converted tries to extend their lead.
With Frost back on the pitch, Ellingham went looking for a fourth try, earning them a bonus point. The Ellingham forwards administered sustained pressure before full-back Chris Jeffes dived over in the far corner.
Ellingham were playing their best rugby, with Hugo Leigh-Watts muscling his way down the left before a yellow card-earning high tackle stopped debutant Connor Hammerston in his tracks. The former New Milton man would not be deterred, with Hammerston scoring Ellingham’s fifth try.
It was the first time all season that the runaway league leaders conceded four tries at home.
Ellingham will hope to return to winning ways on Saturday when they host second-from-bottom Guernsey seconds.
Ellingham & Ringwood: A. Payne, P. Fraser, M. Treloar, D. Smith, C. Scott, J. Bovett, A. Lorton, G. Randall, S. Veneroso, T. Veneroso, H. Leigh-Watts, C. Hamerston, A. Higgins, C. Frost, C. Jeffes. Subs: G. Guy, D. Jackson, C. Hills.