PREVIEW – Ellingham & Ringwood (A)
It has been the best part of 36 years since we late met – and a lot of things have changed. Our hosts aren’t even called the same thing nor do they play at the same place … but we meet in the league once more!
MATCH: Ellingham and Ringwood v Tottonians
VENUE: Parsonage Barn Lane, Ringwood, BH24 1PZ
COMPETITION: Regional Division 2 South Central
DATE: Saturday 20th September 2025
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
ADMISSION: FREE
LIVE MATCH UPDATES: On our Twitter/X channel @Tottonians
OVERVIEW:
Won one, lost one thus far for Tottonians as we head into match three against the second of the two promoted sides from Counties 1 Hampshire and a local derby of sorts that has been on the back burner for quite some time. Ellingham and Ringwood were promoted last season as runners-up to Havant Dolphins and it is great to finally lock horns with another New Forest-based team for the first time since 2001, when we played Fawley in London 4 South-West (and won 42-7).
It hasn’t been the smoothiest of starts for our hosts, who have lost both of their opening games at Havant Dolphins 37-15 and at Old Tiffinians 39-19 so Saturday marks a historic day in the life of Ellingham and Ringwood as they play Regional Division rugby on home soil for the first time in a decade after slipping out of London 3 South-West in 2014/15.
But this is a different Ellingham and Ringwood, a side that won 18 of their 22 games last season including all of the last six to ensure they would be the runners-up behind the Hooks Lane outfit and make the move into Regional 2 South Central for 2025/26.
As for the visitors, it was a much needed victory last weekend after the slip up at Petersfield and the team showed their mettle against a strong Havant outfit to secure a bonus point victory and the coaches have asked for much of the same this weekend as they head a little into the unknown against our friendsd from the other side of the heathland divide!
TEAM NEWS:
There is a number of changes to the starting XV from last Saturday’s home win over Havant Dolphins, due to injury and unavailability.
In the back line, summer signing Alex Bolter-Jackson is given a debut on the wing while Ethan Riley starts for the first time this season at full-back in an otherwise unchanged back division.
The pack shows a handful of switches. Tom Gregory is available having missed last week due to work commitments while Jonny Lovell comes in the second row for the injured Callum Turvey.
Isaac Osman and Isaac Lovell both take places on the bench having impressed in pre-season with the second XV, it will be a debut for the talented young Lovell who joined the club in the summer.
HISTORY and STATS:
13,020 days ago, Tottonians travelled across the New Forest on the A31, destination Picket Post, to take on Ellingham in Hampshire League Division 2.
Having been relegated from Hampshire 1 the previous season, Tottonians had had a good start to the new campaign with six wins and a single defeat from their opening seven matches before the trip to Ellingham on 27 January 1990.
Tottonians’ published team that day (in David Kenny’s Daily Echo column on the Friday) was Graham Waugh, Alan Woodhouse, Andy Smith, Jonathan Smith, Ian Ashman, Pete Fryatt, Rob Budd; Ian Coffin, Murray Townsend, Oggy Osman, Paul Searle, John Robertson, Dave Martin, Steve ‘Stan’ Ashman and Adi Hamilton although Tim Pidgley had replaced Budd on the day.
Kenny reported “Prop Ian Coffin and Jonathan Smith grabbed two touchdowns apiece as Tottonians notched ten tries in their 59-0 rout of Ellingham.
“Totts’ other tries came from Tim Pidgley, Ade Hamilton, Paul Searle, John Robertson, Murray Townsend and Alan Woodhouse.
“Eight of the tries were converted by Pete Fryatt who also kicked a penalty. Pidgley, deputising for Rob Budd at scrum-half, wing Ian Ashman and No. 8 Dave Martin all impressed for Totts.”
Totts would miss out on promotion so faced Ellingham again on 17 November 1990, this time at Water Lane with Totts in red-hot form with six wins from six and having scored 152 points and conceded only 25.
The Friday Daily Echo published side that day was Graham Waugh, Ram Hammond, Alan Woodhouse, Andy Bartram, Andy Smith, Pete Fryatt, Rob Budd; Gary Baggulay, Murray Townsend, Roger Spollin, Keith Searle, Paul Searle, Dave Martin, Paul Smith, Bruce Elkins.
Kenny would write in Monday’s edition, “Wing Ram Hammond showed the way with four tries as Tottonians maintained their 100 per cent record in Hampshire Division 2 by trouncing Ellingham 76-0.
“They began the day trailing then fellow leaders Heathens on points difference and determined to win by a big score.
“They ran in 15 tries, the others coming from scrum-half Rob Budd (3), Andy Smith (2), Bruce Elkins 92), Paul Smith, Roger Spollin, Andy Bartram and Alan Woodhouse. Pete Fryatt converted eight of the tries.”
Tottonians would win the league that year and rejoin Hampshire 1 and our two clubs would go separate ways … until Saturday when we re-engage in league competition, albeit against a different team name and a different location!
