After last weekends successful trip to Guernsey Ellingham & Ringwood welcomed local rivals New Milton for a home game in front of a large crowd many of whom had enjoyed a pre-match lunch to watch the two New Forest teams do battle.

With the pitch looking resplendent and bathed in late autumnal sunshine the match kicked off with the home taking control with captain and scrum half Sammy Veneroso leading the way after only five minutes dashing over to score the first try of the game at the Specsavers End with his brother Tom playing at fly half converting for the additional two points. Only three minutes later flanker Ted Johnson found himself out on the far wing to dive over in the corner following some good interplay with the forward's and backs to extend the home team's lead at the Specsavers end in front of a jubilant crowd. Then in the 11th minute Ellingham's very own number 11 Hugo (The Bosh) Leigh-Watts raced over on the opposite wing to score the home teams third try of the game. With the Ellingham pack dominating, with a man of the match performance from lock George Randall, they were setting up great platforms for free-flowing rugby that the home teams three quarters exploited with centre and defence coach Adam Higgins crashing through several New Milton players to score the fourth try of the game. This time Tom Veneroso was able to convert for the extra two points.

In the 25th minute of the game fly half Tom Veneroso saw a gap and sniped through to score a try which he then duly slotted over the kick through the uprights to extend the home teams lead. Three minutes later full back Chris Jeffes cut a good line following some wonderful passing and dived over in front of the home crowd to score another try in the corner. The next try was scored by number eight Lewis Nicholls who powered his way to the line to earn a well deserved try for Ellingham's forwards. Then in the 32nd minute The Bosh scored his second try of the game from another well worked move, two minutes later following more fluid passes flanker Chris Hancock sprinted from outside the away teams twenty two to score under the posts, giving Tom Veneroso an easy kick to add two points. To round an emphatic first half off, Tom Veneroso got his second try of the game which he was able to convert to make the half time score Ellingham & Ringwood 53 - New Milton 0.

In the 44th minute replacement number 8 replicated his predecessor Lewis Nicholls by powering through New Miltons defence to score another try, then in 48th minute fly half Tom Veneroso who was having a good game dived over for another try. Not to be out done by his brother skipper Sammy Veneroso snipped over for his second try of the game in the 59th minute. New Milton battled hard through out the game and did stem the flow of scores in the second half, but they could not prevent the full tidal wave that the home team were unleashing on them, which led to hooker Pat Fraser powering his way through to score in the 66th minute. To round things off Dan Stewart who had terrorised the visitors defence all game dived over in the 78th minute to score the 14th try of the game which Tom Veneroso was able to convert to make the final score Ellingham & Ringwood 84 - New Milton 0.

On the other pitch Ellingham & Ringwood defeated Dorcehster in their game to make it a good afternoon for the club. Recognition and thanks need to be extended to the hard working volunteers that make Ellingham & Ringwood the successful club it is, firstly to Nick Wilson and Tony Farmer for supplying the wonderful playing surfaces the best in our respective leagues. Secondly, to Becci Windsor for the lunch and after match meals with assistance from her kitchen helpers Mary Woolfenden and Rhys Rowntree, plus all the bar staff that helped out on what was a busy afternoon pulling pints for the crowds and our visitors from Esher Rugby Club.

Ellingham now have a well deserved break so they can sit and watch the internationals to see if England can match the dizzying heights achieved by the first team this weekend, a score line of England 84 - New Zealand 0 would make for some good newspaper headlines!