We had our final lunch of the season before the game with over thirty of us sitting down. There was a presentation to Mark Hammond as this was his penultimate match as captain following three seasons at the helm. Whilst he will continue to play it is worth mentioning his statistics. He has played 190 first team games since his debut in 2011/2012 scoring over 1,000 points with 87 tries, 200 conversions and 66 penalties. Of course prior to 2011/2012 he was a 2nd XV regular.
As kick off approached the atmosphere and the crowd were building. We estimated there were probably 150 from Ringwood and a 100 supporting us to make it one of the biggest crowds we have seen on Brownsey's Field.
It did not take long for E&R to state their intent as the initial pressure was all on us and they opened the scoring on four minutes with a converted try and followed it with an unconverted try after twelve minutes to take a 0 – 12. We had now weathered the initial storm and the game was more even with little to choose between the sides at the set pieces. A penalty to us on twenty minutes was successfully converted by Mark Hammond.
However, E&R were having the better of the breakdowns and they got their third try on thirty minutes to take the score to 3 – 17. The visitors tails were really up now as they chased the extra try to give them the bonus point and it duly arrived on the stroke of half time and successful conversion made it 3 – 24 at the break.
The second half was very competitive and a period of pressure from us saw Patrick Fielder finish off a great move. Mark added the extras to make the score 10 – 24 at fifty five minutes.
The determination of both sides was intense and yellow cards for both sides and a red for E&R summed up the fierce contest that it had turned into but the final blow for us came with ten minutes to go when E&R got their fifth try and the conversion to make the final score 10 – 31.
Congratulations to E&R as champions winning the title on points difference from second place Bognor. New Milton who had been in the top two for most of the season were edged into third place.
We complete our league season away at Eastleigh next Saturday 1st April.