Ellingham & Ringwood travelled the short distance to local rivals Wimborne who are flying high in the league on what was a rare sunny afternoon this winter. The home team got off to a flyer scoring a try within the first minute to take an early lead, Ellingham fought back and had the opportunity to reduce the deficit when awarded a penalty which winger Chris Frost sadly slotted just wide of the uprights.

The visitors battled hard for the next ten minutes, but could not find that final pass to break the home teams defence and in the 12th minute centre Jack Mason sprinted clear to score Wimborne's second try of the game which was converted, another try by his fellow centre Rhys Gosling followed in the 20th minute. The home team were hitting their stride and their full back Flynn Drummond scored a well worked try in 26th minute, to make life hard for themselves Ellingham were reduced to 14 players with full back Chris Jeffes being shown a yellow card. Wimborne ran in a further three tries in the first half one them from their number eight Harry Dudfield, to make the half time score Wimborne 43 - Ellingham & Ringwood 0.

Unfortunately, it was going to be a tough day at the office for the visitors despite at times putting Wimborne's defence under pressure Ellingham & Ringwood could not breach the home teams try line and were not going to trouble the scoreboard all afternoon. To Wimborne's credit they showed why where they are in the league table and ran in a further 5 unanswered tries one going to prop Jack Arnold, to make the final score Wimborne 72 - Ellingham & Ringwood 0.

Thankfully unlike the earlier fixture with Wimborne where there were several injuries to Ellingham players this game we came away fairly unscathed and with England hosting Ireland next week at Twickenham the players will have the luxury of having a week off and see if England can put the defeat by Scotland behind them.

POTM Josh Ajiboye (pictured)