Following last weeks defeat of local New Forest rivals New Milton, Ellingham & Ringwood 1st XV travelled the short distance down the Spur road to face other local rivals Bournemouth 2nd XV at their Chappel Gate ground. The away team started confidently putting the home team under early pressure which was rewarded in the 5th minute when the referee who had a good game awarded Ellingham a penalty which fly half Tom Veneroso duly slotted over for the three points to give them the lead.

It was an attritional game throughout with some solid defensive work and strong tackles coming in from both sides, the home team though were the first to breach the defence and in the 22nd minute their centre Sam Palmer dived over to score the first try of the game which was converted to give Bournemouth Nomads the lead. Ellingham responded immediately in the 25th minute with a well worked try down the left flank where Hugo Leigh-Watts playing on the left wing used his strength and speed to crash over the line and Tom Veneroso was able to slot over the conversion for the away team to re-take the lead.

Five minutes later man of the match Hugo the 'Bosh' (pictured) was in for his second try of the game once again evading tackles to score and Tom Veneroso who was having a fine first half slotted over the conversion to further extend Ellingham's advantage. Then it was the turn of the Veneroso brothers to get in on the act with captain and scrum half Sammy leading the way with a not so much a sniping run, but a determined drive to the line despite the attention of a number of Nomad defenders trying to stop him. Tom Veneroso then slotted over the conversion at the end of the first half to make the score Bournemouth Nomads 7 - Ellingham & Ringwood 22.

Coach Alan Steel wanted to see more of the hard work and determination in the first half from his team to try and score more tries and seal a bonus point win to put pressure on Eastleigh who were above them in the league standings prior to their home fixture with them next Saturday, but first they had to get the job done. The away team started the second half strongly as they had the ended the first half, with early pressure on the Nomads defence they conceded another penalty in the 44th minute which Tom Veneroso was able to slot over to make the score Bournemouth Nomads 7 - Ellingham & Ringwood 25 and remarkably that was how the score was to remain. Despite the efforts of both sides, for Ellingham searching for that fourth try to earn the bonus point and for the Nomads to claw their way back in the game. The referee was to award a number of yellow cards to both sides as he managed the high tackle of the game closely ensuring player safety, our very own colossus fly haly Tom Veneroso blotting his copy book (as a teacher he should know better!) and being sent to the side lines for ten minutes for a high tackle.

Neither side could take control despite at times having the numerical advantage, with the last play of the game Ellingham put Bournemouth under a lot pf pressure and worked their way up into the home teams twenty two wing Dan Stewart was held up and the sharp eyed referee who obviously did not need to go to Specsavers noticed that the ball had been knocked forward as Dan was tackled. With the whistle blown Ellingham secured their hat trick of wins and looked forward to next weeks game at home.

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Cheers
Swede