Ellingham & Ringwood’s women’s side progressed to the second round of the RFU Junior Plate with an impressive victory over the Kent side Medway who are a division above Ellingham.

Ellingham took the leads mid way through the first half with a good try from fly half Charlotte Benson. Medway then equalised, but with the last play of the half Ellingham’s scrum half Paige Darvill-White (pictured) scored an important try that full back Chloe Barrett converted to give them a 12-5 lead at half time.

Medway came back strongly early in the second half with two tries and a conversion to take 17-12 lead. Wing three quarter Nina Hoadley then scored a try that Chloe Barrett converted to regain the lead, before scrum half Paige Darvill-White scored her second try to open up a 24-17 lead. But Medway weren’t finished and a late try closed the gap to 24-22. Fortunately for the home side the conversion was missed and they were able to close out the game to go into the draw for the next round.

After the game the Ellingham coach Henry Benson said, “This was an impressive performance against a team a division above us who knocked us out in the quarter final of this competition last season”. He added, “There is plenty for us to still work on, but I was really impressed by the quality of our defence against a very strong and physical side”.