A changed side from last week travelled to Ellingham & Ringwood on a sunny day. What a change from last week’s weather!
Portsmouth got the game underway and were soon under pressure but some good defensive work kept E/R at bay. Although Portsmouth managed to get into the Ellingham half they soon found themselves defending their line again. A 5 metre lineout saw Ellingham set up a good catch and drive and although they crossed the line somehow Portsmouth managed to get under the ball carrier thus denying them a score. A penalty against Portsmouth for not releasing after a tackle gave Ellingham a kick at goal from almost in front of the posts. The kick was successful and they took a 3-0 lead on 14 minutes.
More good defensive work by Portsmouth kept Ellingham at bay but another penalty for going over the top gave Ellingham a chance to increase their lead which they duly did, to 6-0 on 18 minutes. Although Portsmouth were holding their own at scrum time pretty well it was a different matter when the home side set up driving mauls with Portsmouth finding it difficult to hold the bigger and stronger pack. Having said that Portsmouth did on occassions manage to turn the tables on their opponents but couldn’t turn it to their advantage to get the back line threatening the Ellingham line. There was no further score in the first half as the half time whistle went.
The second half saw Portsmouth playing with a slight advantage of the wind blowing across the pitch. Portsmouth were getting a bit more into the game and an excellent break from Ant Fooks saw him make good ground into the opposition 22 before he was stopped. Another drive for the line by Ellingham was thwarted by excellent defensive work with a Portsmouth player managing to get under the ball carrier thus preventing a try.
Prop Liam Avis came off to be replaced by Louis Bristow. Harvey Field also made way for Connor Charlton on the wing and Matt Hoban came off to be replaced by Vinnie Jefferies. Ellingham had a chance to increase their lead but a penalty in front of the posts went wide. Fooks caught the ball and broke upfield, the ball eventually finding its way to Solanki who put in a good clearance up to the 10 metre line. A fantastic steal by No.7 Liam Glazebrook saw him race away and a good kick ahead took the ball into the opposition 22 where they managed to knock on giving Portsmouth a scrum. about 7 or 8 metres from the try line. Scrum half Wright got the ball away and Will Dalziel put in a lovely cross kick that was caught by the speeding Alex Randell coming in from fullback and he put in a great dive into the lefthand corner to score the first try of the match. The conversion missed and the score was now 6-5 on 53 minutes.
Adam Parks-Dare then came off to be replaced by Liam Avis. From the restart Portsmouth knocked on giving Ellingham a scrum just outside the 5 metre line. They won the ball and their winger crossed for a try taking the score to 11-5 on 57 minutes. Portsmouth then lost Aaron Beesley to a yellow card for handling in the ruck. This follows a yellow card for Solanki issued earlier. Portsmouth had been giving penalties away and it was felt had rather lost the referee due mainly to the number of penalties the were being pinged for.
More pressure from Ellingham saw them extend their lead with a converted try taking the score to 18-5 on 64 minutes. Portsmouth were trying to work their way back into the game to at least get a losing bonus point but could not make that final breakthrough and eventually the final whistle went with a victory to Ellingham & Ringwood.
This was a rather disappointing result for Portsmouth and brought their winning streak to an end. As we know from our first encounter this season Ellingham have been strengthened by 3 or 4 signings from Bournemouth. Certainly their No.10 played an influential part in todays game as did their wingers. Portsmouth had their moments but could not keep pressure on for long enough to cause problems we know they can manage. Alex Randell had a good game at fullback and Liam Glazebrook put in another good performance at No.7. The pack held their own in the tight but possible missed Sam Foster in the second row.
This result sees Portsmouth remain in 7th.place on 25 points. Ellingham & Ringwood are 3rd, on 43 points. Bournemouth 2nds are in 8th place also on 25 points but with a worse points difference, -137, to our -28. Next weeks opponents are Sandown & Shanklin who didn’t play on Saturday due to a HWO against New Milton. They are in 5th place on 35 points. Next week Portsmouth will be having their Christmas Dinner prior to the match which starts at 2.00pm.
TEAM
LIAM AVIS, BRAD ATKINS, ADAM PARKS-DARE
ALEX HIGSON, MATT HOBAN
ANT FOOKS, LIAM GLAZEBROOK, AARON BEESLEY(C)
GEORGE WRIGHT, JAS SOLANKI
BRAD JEWER, MATT HUGHES, WILL DALZIEL, HARVEY FIELD
ALEX RANDELL
BENCH
LOUIS BRISTOW, VINNIE JEFFERIES, CONNOR CHARLTON