Ellingham drawn in the easier side of the draw started with a win over New Milton which was a lot closer than it should have been. The forwards not really putting in the effort to win the ball for the great backs we have. Thanks to Jude for putting his body on the line to make what turned out to be a very important cover tackle and injuring himself in the process, but when we did get the ball into the back’s hands, some real pace sealed us the win. Adam Kalim and Aaron Moritzen making sure we got the job done.

The second group match always promised to be the group decider, and unfortunately once again we didn’t really get going until the second half; by that time the game was gone and Trojans A team came out comfortable winners. The final group match was against Tottonians, who have always struggled to get a side out at U14s, today after a serious injury to one of their players they ended up borrowing players. This match gave the E’s a chance to get their game started, and they ran out very comfortable winners. Aaron scoring a hat trick in the first half before being subbed off. But there were signs of things to come with the forwards really beginning to wake up and use their dominance ,and a chance for some of the newer players to get some time with the ball in their hands. Only a huge tackles from the borrowed E’s players stopping tries for Aidan and Josh.

That win set up a semi final against the very impressive Wimborne, who had comfortably won all their matches in their group and are playing in the Dorset and Wilts cup final next weekend. Wimborne always seem to bring the best out in Ellingham, as they applied pressure in spades, Stephen Whitehouse and James Jenkins putting in massive defensive efforts and Louis Harling everywhere closing down the Wimborne strike runners early and when we turned the ball over spinning the ball wide to the very impressive Adam Kalim. This match probably included the best try of the day with the forwards turn over at a ruck on the right of the field which was spun through the hands with a great loop by Oli Johnson to create the overlap on the left to sprint over in the left hand corner. The E’s held Wimborne to nil when they had averaged 6 tries a match to that point.

This set up a final against Trojans, and it looked like Ellingham had slipped back to the bad ways of the group stages quickly falling 3 tries behind, but the E’s were made of stronger stuff and all of a sudden the magic of the semi final was back with the crashing into tackles and forcing errors from the Trojans players- that said they turned around 31-10 having played down the hill in the first half, and their dangerous strike running captain Aaron off the field with a bang. It was time to step up to the plate and oh boy did they! Oli Johnson started to control the mid-field, creating space for the rest of the backs; the time being created by Ben Mortimer playing at scrum half generating real pace on the ball, and Gabriel running directly into the heart of the Trojans defense, putting them on the back foot. Ellingham had clawed their way back to be within 4 points, with seconds left on the clock. A misdemeanor at a line out in the E’s half by Trojans gave a penalty to Ellingham and a final throw of the dice, determined running and great support play was rewarded with a pass to the charging Owen Dingle. Owen, juggling the pass put everyone’s hearts into their mouths, but he was never going to drop the ball with huge mitts like that, and he crashed over to put the E’s 1 point in front with no time on the clock and the conversion to take, which he duly slotted to win the tournament.

The whole squad made their coaches and supporters very proud, working some brilliant moves and even thinking about the conversions when crossing the white wash but rather than score the try find the better kicker in support to ensure the win, not something the coaches endorsed but really showing maturity and rugby heads which will serve them well in the league next year.

A brilliant day for all.