Ellingham &Ringwood 1st XV travelled to Havant to play the league leaders in a top of the table clash and for the visitors to try and achieve what no other team in the league had managed all season to beat Havant and end their undeated record. With a large crowd watching from the stand and around the fringes of the pitch that was bathed in winter sunshine the game set off 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 returning to the first team made 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 Mike sustained a rib injury after the first scrum of the game and had to leave the pitch after about 8 minutes to replaced by George Guy. 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. Then in the 13th minute winger James Wise finished off a fine move down the left flank to score Havant's second try of the game, which could not be converted. Then in the 17th minute the home team stretched their lead with another try and this time the conversion was successful.

Ellinghan fought back with number 8 George Randall powering over in the 22nd minute to put the visitors on the score board following good work from the forwards, Chris Frost was playing on the right wing was able to convert his kick to reduce the deficit. Unfortunately within three minutes the home team extended their lead with another well worked try and the two points were added from the kick. Then in the 36 minute with some fine passing from the Ellingham's back as pass was sent out to George Randall who was able to smash over in the fine corner to get Ellingham's second try of the game. Havant showed why their are unbeaten all season with their relentless running rugby proving difficult for the visitors to contend with and this time it was their other winger Christopher Buckett who was able to give the home team their fifth try of the game and make the half time score Havant 31 - Ellingham & Ringwood 12.

Within 8 minutes of the re-start Havant were able to cross the try line a further two times and make the conversions to increase their lead, during this period pf play replacement prop George Guy had to leave the field following a ferocious tackle towards the end of the first half, which George could not recover from. With Ellingham down to 14 players with Chris Frost off the pitch for being off-side and receiving a yellow card debutant Daniel Jackson who was playing as a flanker with James Bovett moving intothe the front row powered his way over the line to score Ellingham's third try of the game, which fly half Tom Veneroso was able to convert.

Havant were relentless with their attacks and added a further two tries and conversions in the 57 and 67th minute to further extend their lead. With Frost back on the pitch Ellingham were looking to get something out of the game for a bonus point if they could get that elusive fourth try. This was achieved following sustained pressure from the Ellingham forwards eventually the ball was worked out to full back Chris Jeffes who dived over in the far corner. Ellingham were playing their best rugby of the game and with Hugo Leigh-Watts muscling his way down the left flank into the oppositions 22 he passed out to another debutant Connor Hammerston playing in the centres, his run was stopped with a high tackle which resulted in the Havant player getting a yellow card. This did not deter Connor because in the 78th minute he barged his way over to score Ellingham's fifth try of the game and this was to be the last score of the game. Havant fully deserved their win, but Ellingham achieved what no other team have managed at their ground all season by scoring more than four tries against them. The final score was Havant 59 - Ellingham & Ringwood 29, this result meant the visitors dropped to 3rd in the league, but this could change in two weeks when they play Gosport and Fareham who are in second place only one point above the mighty E's.

MOTM Sammy Veneroso