Ellingham and Ringwood 22 - Trojans 28

After being promoted last season, we welcomed Trojans to Parsonage Barn Lane on Saturday for the first time for many years, for a Hampshire Counties Division 1 fixture .

Both teams contested strongly for the opening 15 minutes but were unable to convert their pressure into points. Following good work form our forwards, the ball was worked through the backline to our wing three-quarter Chris Frost who dived over in the corner to score the first try of the game, but unfortunately he was unable to kick the conversion. Trojans fought back and following some ill-discipline from us, their scrum half Joshua Lambrou kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit. Shortly afterwards he had another opportunity that would have given them the lead, but he was unsuccessful. To make amends Lambrou was able to dart over the line to score Trojans first try of the game, but he was unable to kick the conversion. We fought back, but could not convert the pressure into points and shortly before half time, further ill-discipline from us led to Trojans being awarded a penalty which Lambrou kicked to give Trojans a 5-11 lead at the break.

Trojans started the second half well and their fly half Tugdual Long dived over for a well worked try, which Lambrou converted to extend their lead. Despite concerted efforts, we were not able to make a breakthrough and the Trojans hooker Oscar Weatherall crashed over to score their third try of the game, which Lambrou converted.

We continued to work hard and shortly after coming off the bench to play on the wing, Ted Johnson finished a good try in the corner to reduce the deficit. Unfortunately further ill-discipline from us allowed Lambrou to kick an easy penalty to extend Trojans lead. In the last ten minutes we sprang into life and following a number of scrums, our hooker Pat Fraser was able to crash over for our third try of the game, but Chris Frost was unable to convert. With time running out we continued to apply pressure and our number 8 Stuart Pearce was able to get over the try line to score our fourth try and secure two bonus points. Again, Chris Frost was unable to kick the conversion.