Ellingham & Ringwood 32pts – Weybridge Vandals 51pts

scoring eight tries and gaining more bonus points to draw away from Purley John Fisher, who remain in third place, trailing the Brownacre Boys six points.
It was another solid performance from the pack which was fully complimented by some slick and skilful handling by the backs in which the centre partnership of CASSIAN BRAMHAM-LAW and GREG CUSHING was a constant threat to the home side. Ellingham & Ringwood contributed fully to the game and their backline at times posed problems for Vandals, but because they were going backwards at the set scrum, they were unable to penetrate as much as they would have liked. They did fight back to score two tries in the latter part of the second half, but by then Vandals had pulled away and were in no danger of losing.

Vandals set the tone from kick-off, driving forward putting immediate pressure on the home side, who were penalised, allowing fly half JAMES WELLDEN to kick his side into an early lead. Ellingham quickly responded, however, with a converted try after Vandals kick was charged down. The first of several dominant scrums by Vandals then saw BRAMHAM-LAW make an incisive break. The scoring pass was knocked on, but a second scrum resulted in a try by No.8 ANDY HOWE, after the pack had once again driven forward. Vandals lead was short lived as Ellingham raised the tempo, slotting over a penalty and then scoring a fine try from line out possession. Vandals defence was tested as the home side attempted to increase their lead but having repelled these attacks Vandals took the game by the scruff of its neck to score three times in quick succession. Prop CRAIG DE COTEAU set the tone with a charge down the right flank and then from a line out CUSHING showed his class with a quite superb piece of running, leaving tacklers in his wake. Straight from the restart the forwards set up good ball for the backs and BRAMHAM-LAW with an exquisite pass set up full back ROSS DOUGLAS for a second try. If the home side was reeling from these two tries they must have been shell shocked when they leaked another score two minutes later. BRAMHAM-LAW made the penetrating break and back DARYL BRYANT was up in support to take the scoring pass. To their credit Ellingham fought back and breached Vandals defence to take the score to 22-27, but right on half time Vandals scored their fifth try when from a scrum HOWE picked up and fed scrum half JOHN CLARK who went over unopposed.

Vandals began the second half as they finished the opening forty minutes. A deft kick by flanker DARREN LOCKYEAR found winger BEN SCOTT who put in a dash for the line, before passing back inside to LOCKYEAR for the try. Breaks by MIKE EDMONSON and CUSHING again kept Vandals on the attack and from a strike against the head WELLDEN went over to convert his own try. At 44-22 Vandals were well in command, but the home side rallied to score two tries in quick succession, but Vandals had the last word, their pack once again showing superiority as they powered for the line causing Ellingham to infringe and leaving the referee no option but to award a penalty try to take Vandals to the half century mark.