Counties Two Hampshire rugby: Ellingham & Ringwood see off dogged Fawley

Counties Two Hampshire
Ellingham & Ringwood RFC 34
Fawley RFC 18

ELLINGHAM & Ringwood started their league campaign with a victory over newly promoted Fawley at the Raymond Brawn Memorial Ground.

Ellingham started brightly and, following good work by the forwards, right winger Jack Kelly used his lightning pace and sped down the touchline before cutting inside to score under the posts, allowing opposite winger Chris Frost to kick an easy conversion.

Fawley fought back and forced an error from the defence. The resulting line-out allowed Fawley to press again across the width of the field, with winger Peni Tuirabe crossing the line.

Ellingham's forwards started to show their ball handling skills in the centre of the pitch before flanker Ted Johnson smashed through a tackle to score under the posts for a converted try.

E&R's Frost slotted a penalty before scoring a try under the posts after some great work from the forwards, who linked up well with the backs. He then converted to make it 24-5 at the break.

Fawley improved dramatically in the second half, and fly-half Rob Thomas kicked a 20-metre penalty before Tuirabe charged down an attempted E&R clearance kick, allowing the winger to collect and finish an impressive individual effort under the posts, which the fly-half converted to narrow the score to 24-15.

Inside-centre Chris Seaby smashed through several tackles to hit back for Ellingham before Fawley's scrum-half Ben Wild wrestled to get the ball down at the other end and to earn a valuable five-pointer.

Scrum-half Sammy Veneroso kicked a late penalty to extend Ellingham's lead, and Fawley fought hard to try and get a bonus point fourth try, but the E&R defence held firm, earning a bonus point win.

Ellingham & Ringwood: T. Benevento; L. Reynolds, A. Payne, M. Skeates, J. Fisher, A. Lorton, T. Johnson, S. Pearce, S. Veneroso, H. Benson, C. Frost, D. Patrice, C. Seaby, J. Kelly, T. Veneroso. Subs: J. Rowntree, P. Lawson, R. Ticehurst.

Fawley: C. Windsor-Price, L. Dack, P. Schreiber, T. Musty, I. Matai, D. Leggett, F. Cockeram, C. Weatherall, B. Wild, R. Thomas, J. Park, R. Dean, N. Fairbairn, L. Edinborough, E. Uglow. Subs: T. Kitcher, P. Tuirabe, J. Heritage.