NEW Milton moved to within touching distance of clinching the Hampshire One title following a hard-fought 49-18 win over Ellingham & Ringwood.

The win at the Raymond Brown Memorial Ground left them five points clear of second-placed Petersfield – their opponents on the final day of the season.

Milton stamped their authority on the match during the first half against fifth-placed Ellingham & Ringwood but the hosts fought back in the second period.

And it was not until the final 10 minutes that the visitors finally gained control to outscore the Es by eight tries to two.

Josh Butcher drew first blood for the hosts when he kicked a penalty before Adam Lavis did likewise to level.

Butcher kept Ellingham in touch with another penalty after Ben Russell broken through to score the first try of the contest.

However, Milton started to turn the screw with Lee Thomas’s try double added to by touch downs from Ryan Morrell and Sam O'Regan – with Lavis converting two.

Lavis again added the extras after man of the match Thomas had crossed the whitewash to complete his hat-trick in the first minute of the second half.

Ellingham dug deep and reduced the arrears through tries from inside-centre Callum Butler and full-back Chris Frost with Butcher kicking a conversion.

In the closing stages, Lewis Waugh went over to complete a good team move before Ramon Mallette touched the chalk to wrap up the scoring.

New Milton: Kaspers, George, Wright, Duckworth, Bew, Thomas, Treacey, Russell, J O'Regan, Lavis, Oliver, Mallette, S O'Regan, Morrell, Smith. Replacements: Waugh, McQueen, Conacher.