Promotion still on for Ellingham and Ringwood after victory against Southampton

ELLINGHAM AND RINGWOOD RFC secured an important 44-17 bonus point win against Southampton on Saturday to remain in second place in Hampshire Division 1 keeping promotion in reach.

The New Forest side had a dream start when fly half Archie Cockayne scored an early try that was converted by full back Dean Young.

Southampton dug in and Ellingham & Ringwood spent the next 20 minutes with backs to the wall as the visitors pressed their try line. The home defence, backed up by a large vocal partisan crowd, was immense and time after time held firm.

The pressure was relieved when Ellingham wing three quarter Josh Rowntree finished off a good break away try. The conversion was tricky, but the trusty boot of Young did not disappoint.

Just before the half-time Young crossed the whitewash to hand Ellingham a 19-0 lead at the break that did not reflect the balance of the game.

With some of the pressure off Ellingham dominated much of the second half and scored further tries through wing three quarter Matt Moore, flank forward Stuart Pearce and number 8 David Budd.

Full back Dean rounded off a fine individual performance, helping himself to a second try, a penalty and a further conversion.

Southampton continued to make it a competitive game and replied with three tries and a conversion.

After the game, Ellingham’s first XV captain Henry Benson said: “This was a good response to last week’s narrow loss to third placed Farnborough and we’re still in a promotion place.

“But we’re going to have to work really hard in the final part of the season if we’re going to achieve our objective of being promoted into the Hampshire Premier League.”