New Milton 18 - Ellingham and Ringwood 13

On a cold, but bright December afternoon we travelled across to New Forest rivals New Milton for a closely fought contest which started brightly for the home team. We kicked off, New Milton received the ball and spent virtually the next 20 minutes of the game encamped in the visitor's half. We defended doggedly, but eventually the home team's dominance told and they crossed the line for a converted try. This seemed to give us the boost we needed and we fought back with some good link up play. The pressure told and the home side gave away a penalty which Andrew Kingsland kicked to reduce the deficit. Then with some intelligent kicking from our fly half Archie Cockayne, we pushed the home team back further, from a penalty and ensuing line out, we drove New Milton back over their try line with Callum Butler playing on the flank, scoring a well worked try. New Milton fought back and ill-discipline led to a penalty which the home team kicked to take a 10 - 8 lead into the break

We started the second half strongly and replicated what New Milton had achieved in the first quarter of the game. The pressure was relentless and Callum Butler crashed over for his second try of the game, but unfortunately, the conversion went wide. Despite their hard work Ellingham could not make the pressure count and New Milton fought back again. Ill-discipline led to New Milton kicking a penalty to make the score line 13 all. Will Maw coming on after a long-term injury to replace Mark Skeates on the flank was given a yellow card after about 20 seconds of being on the pitch, so no guesses for who got 'dick of the day' after the match. New Milton then applied a lot of pressure and with 5 minutes to go they scored in the corner to win the game. There was a large crowd at the game well fuelled by a pre- match lunch with a mini-bus full of revellers put on by Phil (Chicken Legs) Hoyle from the London Tavern in Ringwood.