A YOUNG and inexperienced Ellingham and Ringwood gave a tremendous showing at

Sandown and Shanklin to earn a precious bonus point in a slim 13-11 defeat.

Consequently, Es remain wedged at the Snows Hampshire One basement, having won just once in five matches.

The clash was played in difficult gale-force conditions and, playing with the wind behind their backs, the Islanders scored two tries in the first 20 minutes to build up a 10-0 lead.

The visitors stuck to their task and slowly started to get on top.

They spent the last ten minutes of the first half in the Sandown quarter and were rewarded when number eight Jack White scored from a lineout to make it 10-5 at the break.

Following the restart, Ellingham started to dominate and were rewarded with a penalty, which their fly half Will Gough kicked to close the gap to 10-8.

They continued to apply pressure and Gough kicked a penalty to put Ellingham ahead 11-10 with ten minutes left on the clock.

Sandown upped the ante and forced the visitors to concede a scrum penalty, which was converted and saw the hosts clinch victory.

There was better news at Poole.

Again two points was the difference but they were collected by Es' seconds who were victorious 31-29.