ELLINGHAM & Ringwood held on to record an important 32-31 home triumph over Hampshire One rivals Alresford.

Despite the visitors opening the scoring after carving open the Es defence, the hosts went on to dominate the remainder of the half.

Wing Jonny Joiner touched down twice with other scores coming from fly-half Charlie Cockram and scrum-half Dave Jones to secure a try bonus point within the first half hour.

Centre Dean Young also kicked a conversion and a penalty to open up a 25-7 lead for the hosts at the break.

A three-try salvo from Alresford saw them reduce to one point the deficit before Ellingham replied with an important score from flanker Andrew Lorton and Young added the extras.

Having put the hosts under intense pressure during the latter stages, Alresford came within a point of restoring parity once more.

A try from the final play of the game was converted by the visitors, but Ellingham had done enough to record their sixth league win of the campaign.

The result meant the Es leapfrogged Alresford into seventh in the league table.

Meanwhile, Garrett Avis scored a hat-trick as Ellingham & Ringwood seconds hammered Blandford seconds 60-7 in Dorset & Wilts Two South.

Scrum-half and captain Aaron Barker scored twice and kicked five conversions. The visitors’ other tries were recorded by Ollie Harvey, Tim Iles, Mike Moody, Matt Real and Duncan Soden.

Elsewhere, Ellingham & Ringwood’s women maintained their 100 per cent record in National Challenge One South West.

They recorded a convincing 60-7 bonus-point victory at Topsham.

Centre Keira Paul-Jones, number eight Chantelle McClure, flanker Paige Darvill-White and wing Nina Hoadley all scored twice.

Scrum-half Rosie Swann also touched down and full-back Chloe Barrett scored a try and kicked five conversions.