Ellingham & Ringwood welcomed Trojans for their first league game of 2025 with the home team aiming to carry on their winning form into the New Year. Ellingham got off to a good start with captain and scrum half Sammy Veneroso picking the ball up from the base of the scrum in the oppositions twenty-two nipped down the blindside and away from the Trojan defence to score the first try of the game in the 4th minute. Chris Frost playing on the wing was able to slot the ball through the uprights for the additional two points. Ellingham continued to apply the pressure this time through hooker Pat Fraser who in his typical powerful way muscled over the line to score the second try of the game in the 10th minute with Frost able to add the extra two points.

Trojans fought back in the 17th minute their hooker matched the power shown by his opposite number to reduce the defict, but they could not increase the score as the conversion was missed. With the away team applying more pressure the home team had to defend strongly as the game became more attritional, Trojans were trying to spin the ball out to the wing when Chris Frost intercepted a pass just over the half way line and ran clear of their defence to score under the posts making it easy for him to convert for the extra two points. Then before the close of the first half in the 38th minute outside half Hugo Leigh-Watts scored Ellingham's fourth try of the game following good build up work from the forrwards securing the home team a deserved bonus point and Frost was able to convert his kick through the posts, making the half time score Ellingham & Ringwood 28 - Trojans - 5.

Ellingham attacking the SpecSavers End of the ground got off to a blistering start with some effective passing from the forwards second row Connor Scott off loaded deftly to winger Dan Gollings sprinting clear to score in the far corner to the delight of the home crowd, Frost was unable to convert from out wide. Then in 52 minute the provider of the last try Connor Scott became a try scorer crashing over to extend Ellingham's again Frost's usually reliable right foot let him down as he missed the conversion. Trojans then had a good spell of play with their number 4 scoring their second try of the game in the 59th minute, but their kick was not successful. Captain Veneroso got his second try of the game in the 66th minute when he took a quick free kick and dashed over the try line, this time Frost was able to convert his kick.

Trojans fought back again with their scrum half muscling his way over for their third try of the game and as previously the kicker did not succeed in adding the extra two points. Then in the 73rd minute of the game second row Dean Smith sprinted clear to score under the posts to give Ellingham their ninth and final try of the game, Frost was able to convert. Trojans were to have the last say in the game when their number 8 earnt his team a hard fought bonus point, by scoring their fourth try of the game. The ref blew his whistle to make the final score Ellingham & Ringwood 57 - Trojans 20, this place them in second position to achieve Ellingham's highest placing in the clubs history, before their trip to league leaders Havant next week for a top of the table clash.

MOTM Tom Sampson - pictured

Swede