It was has been a testing 2026 so far for grounds staff across the region due to the onslaught of rain that has descended onto the pitches, the club once again has to thank the legend Nick Wilson for managing to maintain the pitch so the game against Chobham could be played.

Ellingham dominated the opening spell of the game putting the visitors under intense pressure from the off, welcoming back some long term absentees from injury such as Mike Treloar who was playing at prop and Archie Cockayne playing in the centre. It was the latter who was to get the first try of the game after some driving mauls from the forwards the ball was spun to Archie who muscled his way over in the far corner of the in the 7th minute to give Ellingham a 5 point lead. Chobham fought back, but it was going to take nearly 20 minutes before they got their first try of the game, due to some attritional defending from the home side at the SPECSAVERS end of the pitch. Finally in the 26th minute Chobham got their first try of the game, which they were able to convert to take the lead. This lead was extended in the 32 minute with another converted try and there was to be no further scores in the first half, making the score at the break Ellingham & Ringwood 5 - Chobham 14.

Leading from the front fly half and captain Sammy Veneroso darted through to score the home teams second try of the game having just returned to the pitch having received a yellow card towards the end of the first 40 minutes, with left winger Chris Frost converting his kick to narrow the gap to just 2 points. At this stage of the game it looked like Ellingham were going to stage a comeback, but this was short lived because in the 51st minute Chobham scored their third converted try of the game. This was repeated in the 55th and 57th minute as Ellingham took their foot of the gas allowing the visitors to exploit the gaps left by some very poor defending and in that spell the game was effectively taken away from the home team. To add to their pain Chobham scored their sixth and final try of the game which they were unable to convert.

With tensions building on both sides Ellingham fought back following several driving mauls close to the visitors try line the home team attempted to get their third try of the game and with Chobham reduced to 14 men for being offside hooker Pat Fraser bullied his way over for the try which Frost was able to convert. Ellingham were searching for that elusive fourth try and bonus point which their efforts deserved, it came very late in the game following some sustained pressure on the away teams try line. The try scorer was replacement Tyler Grant who came on to play as a flanker, by diving over some mud strewn bodies in an NFL style move (perhaps Tyler thought he was going to be playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday night!) to give Ellingham the bonus point and to make the final score Ellingham & Ringwood 26 - Chobham 40.

Ellingham now have the tough task of playing Wimborne away next week, but now having 5 points for the efforts throughout the season and welcoming back more players from injury lets hope they can continue some of the good play shown today and come away with more points next week. Mention also needs to go out to some debutants for the 1st XV such Martin Weeks and Charles Evernden who came off the bench and contributed well to game.

POTM Zach Morrish (pictured)

Cheers
Swede