Ellingham and Ringwood 1st XV welcomed Bognor to the Raymond Brown Memorial Ground that was bathed in early spring sunshine to see if they could overcome the side that beat the home teams closest rivals for the second spot and promotion (Gosport & Fareham) last week. Es had to make some changes to the team that had won against Eastleigh following some injuries sustained in a full contact session on Thursday night, but the depth in squad proved to be beneficial to Ellingham in a hard fought game.

The opening exchanges of the game were fast and brutal, Bognor came out of the blocks spinning the ball wide and really testing the home teams defence, but it was Ellingham that were the first team to get the score board moving when following an infringement by Bognor, winger Chris Frost stepped up and slotted over the penalty kick to give the home team an early three point lead in the 5th minute. Bognor did not deter from their flowing attack rugby and in the 13th minute they were awarded a penalty for several infringement's the last of which earned Frost a yellow card for a high tackle and the resulting penalty was slotted over to level the scores. Then in the 27th minute of the game following sustained pressure from the Ellingham forwards scrum half and captain Sammy Veneroso darted and sniped his way through Bognor's defence to score the first try of the game, Frost was able to slot the conversion to add the extra two points.

Ill discipline by the home team led to them giving another penalty away in the 30th minute from a kickable distance and the visitors duly slotted over the kick for another three points, remarkably this was to be their last score of the game for Bognor despite their efforts for the remainder of the game. In the 34 minute number eight George Randall who like many Ellingham players had a fine game powered his way over to extend the home teams lead and Frost was able to add the two points. This was to be the last score of the first half with the score being Ellingham & Ringwood 17 - Bognor 6 at half time.

Ellingham and Ringwood came out of the blocks in the first half with replacement Daniel Jackson jigging and muscling his way over in the 40th minute to score the home teams 3rd try of the game and Frost was able to convert the for the extra two points. Then in the 44th minute Frost got a try in the far left hand corner of the SPECSAVERS end of the ground in front of a delighted home crowd following some swift handling from full back Chris Jeffes, giving the home team their try bonus point. Leading from the front yet again which has been a familiar, but welcomed pattern throughout this season Sammy Veneroso once again found a gap in Bognor's defence exploiting it perfectiy to score the home teams fifth try, Frost was having a good game with his place kicks and duly slotted over for another two points. The game was very hard fought throughout with some big tackles going in from both sides leaving man of the match Adam Higgins (pictured) a conundrum with who to give the hit/meat of the week to. Surprisingly the last score of the game came in the 58th minute with hooker Pat Fraser using his power to force his way over the line to score the last points of the game.

Despite Bognor's efforts they could not breach the home teams defence, there is now a rest week and then for the penultimate game of the season Ellingham & Ringwood travel to Gosport & Fareham that could decide who goes up with runaway leaders Havant.

Cheers
Swede