New Milton 21 - Ellingham and Ringwood 27

We travelled to New Milton's Ashley ground on Saturday for our Hampshire Counties Division 1 fixture against our local rivals. With both teams having been promoted into this league this season and both making good starts at the higher level, the game lived up to everyone's expectations.

New Milton started the stronger and early on scored a well worked try in the corner that they were not able to convert. We came back well and were pushing for a try of our own when our fly half Same Venerosso made a long pass to his wing three-quarter, but this was intercepted by the New Milton centre who ran the length of the pitch to extend their lead.

After another period of pressure, we won a penalty in midfield that Sam Venerosso kicked to get us on the scoreboard, but New Milton soon replied with a penalty of their own. Just before half time, our outside centre Ben Carey finished off a good move with a well taken try that Sam Venerosso converted, to make the half time score 13-10.

The second half was as competitive as the first and it was not long before Sam Venerosso kicked another penalty to level the scores. Then, after a sustained period of pressure on the New Milton try line, our number 8 Stuart Pearce (pictured) crashed over in the corner for our second try, but this was not converted. Sam Venerosso was then able to kick two further penalty goals to extend our lead, before New Milton closed the gap with their third try of the afternoon.

Our centre Archie Cockayne then kicked a good drop goal to extend our lead to nine points, before New Milton kicked a late penalty to make the final score 21-27. This earned New Milton a losing bonus point, but we will enjoy the local bragging rights until the return fixture in Ringwood in the New Year.