Hampshire Counties One rugby: Dogged Ellingham & Ringwood take four points home
Hampshire Counties One
Trojans RFC
Ellingham & Ringwood RFC
A DEPLETED Ellingham & Ringwood made it three wins in a row with a dogged display against Trojans.
The first team travelled with only 16 players due to injury problems. Still, matters grew even worse after a scoreless first half when outside centre Ben Carey got tackled into the signboards and left the field with a concussion.
The first half ended with no points on the board despite Ellingham’s dominant scrum crossing the try line twice in the space of a few minutes, but Trojans managed to defend the onslaught successfully.
Trojans started the second half with intent and soon found a route around Ellingham’s makeshift defence, scoring an unconverted try in the corner.
Ellingham heaped pressure on Trojans from the restart, winning a penalty. The familiar kick to the corner, line-out and drive led to Connor Scott scoring and Chris Frost converting.
By now, however, Ellingham were down to 14 men after lock George Randall, who injured his shoulder in the first half when a scrum collapsed, forcing him from the field.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Ellingham looked the fresher of the two sides and, presented with a kickable penalty, opted to go for the corner again.
Captain Veneroso’s confidence in his forwards was rewarded with Corben Hills scoring from a well-worked maul. Frost added the extra two points.
Ellingham continued to match the home side with a good mix of tight and open play, leaving Trojans unsure where to place their defence. Sammy Veneroso spotted a mismatch on the blindside, and a combination of quick feet and mind, coupled with a sublime dummy, sent him over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Ellingham’s hopes of a potential fourth-try bonus point were doused when tighthead prop Mike Treloar could not continue with a back injury.
Sensing the opportunity, Trojans camped in Ellingham’s 22 for the final 10 minutes of the game.
Valiant defence and canny play thwarted the home side but tested the referee’s patience.
In the end, Connor Scott received a yellow due to the growing penalty count, and Ellingham had to play on with just 12 players.
Despite hooker Pat Fraser and back-rowers Lewis Nicholl and man of the match Dean Smith hurling their bodies at the attack, Trojans scored a converted try in the last play of the game and earned themselves a losing bonus point.
Ellingham & Ringwood have the weekend off before returning to action next Saturday against Havant seconds at 3pm.
Ellingham: A. Payne, P. Fraser, M. Treloar, G. Randall, C. Scott, C. Davis, C. Hills, L. Nicholls, S. Veneroso, T. Veneroso, B. Evans, H. Leigh-Watts, B. Carey, C. Frost, C. Jeffes. Subs: S. Cushine-Palmer, A. Lorton.
