We got our league season underway on Saturday when we welcomed newly promoted Fawley to the Raymond Brown Memorial Ground and before kick off a minute's silence was observed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, following a pre-match lunch.

We started brightly and following good work by our forwards, the ball was quickly spun out to right winger Jack Kelly. He utilised his lightning pace, sped down the touch line and cut inside to score under the posts, which allowed his fellow winger Chris Frost to kick an easy conversion. Fawley fought back following a scrum in close to our line. They won the ball and went wide allowing their wing to score a good try in the corner, but they were not able to convert this.

Our forwards started to show off their ball handling skills in the centre of the pitch and after some swift interchanges, Ted Johnson our open side flanker, smashed through a tackle to score under the posts to give Chris Frost another easy conversion.

We continued to apply pressure and ill discipline from Fawley led to them giving away a penalty in front of the posts which Chris Frost kicked. Close to half time, Chris Frost scored a further try under the posts after some great work from our forwards, who were linking up well with our backs. He was then able to convert his own try to give us a 24-5 lead at the break.

Fawley were much stronger in the second half and after some early pressure they won a penalty, which they kicked, before missing another soon after. Fawley continued to fight back and scored their second try under the posts, which their fly half converted to make it 24-15. This woke us up and our inside centre Chris Seaby smashed through a number of tackles to score under the posts and Chris Frosty was again able to kick the conversion. Despite taking several injuries, Fawley were determined not to go down without a fight and they scored their third try of the game out wide, but were unable to convert.

Josh Rowntree then replaced Chris Frost on the wing and scrum half Sammy Veneroso took over the kicking duties and kicked a penalty to further extend our lead. Fawley fought hard to try and get a bonus point fourth try, but our defence held firm to give us an important 34-18 bonus point win.

Ellingham & Ringwood

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