Ellingham & Ringwood 1st XV flew over to Guernsey to play their second team on a lovely warm autumnal day, the home team had not been beaten at home for two years so Ellingham only travelling with a squad of 17 players knew it was going to be a tough day at the office.

Pre match the playing squad decided to take advantage of the sunshine and walk the 3 kilometres from the hotel in St Peters Port to the ground to be welcomed by our very friendly hosts. The game was very attritional from the outset as both sides vied to try and obtain the upper hand and it took until the 20th minute for the deadlock to be broken when from a well worked driving maul hooker Pat Fraser crashed over the line to score the first try of the game, unfortunately Chris Frost playing at full back could not add the extra two points. The home team respnded quickly and from a well worked try with good quick passing through their back line they scored in the corner to level the score's which was converted for Guernsey to take the lead.

Ellingham fought back through MoM Tom Veneroso (pictured) and their endeavours were rewarded when the home team gave away a penalty which Chris Frost duly slotted over in the 30th minute to take the lead by one point. Ellingham continued to apply the pressure and Pat Fraser who was having a good game crashed over for his second try of the game to extend the visitors lead in the 36th minute and Chris Frost was able to kick the conversion to make the half time score Guernsey 7 - Ellingham & Ringwood 15.

The second half was even more attritional than the first, the home team fired up from their half time talk fought hard to claw back three points when awarded a penalty to make the score 10 - 15, they were given another penalty shortly afterwards, but this time could not convert. Both teams strived hard to gain the upper hand with the packs trying to breach the defence of both sides, firstly Guernsey had a try disallowed when they knocked on as they crossed Ellingham's try line. Then Pat Fraser did the same for the visitors a few minutes later despite encouragement from tight head prop Tom Sampson shouting out it's going to be a Pat - TRICK, this was not to be as Pat replicated the home team's effort minutes earlier.

Ellingham held on with some sterling defensive work which Adam Higgins playing at outside centre and defence guru would have been proud of. After a great away result Ellingham and Ringwood went off to celebrate their victory and soak up the pleasures of St Peter Port nightlife which they embraced fully.