ELLINGHAM and Ringwood's women booked their place in the quarter-finals of the RFU National Junior Women's Plate on Sunday after a comfortable 42-10 victory over Witheycombe.

It was a long journey to the West Country and the game was played in difficult conditions on a gently sloping pitch.

Ellingham had the slope and the elements in their favour in the first half and opened up a 32-0 lead.

Scrum half Paige Darvill-White scored two tries in the first 10 minutes with the others coming from Chloe Barrett, Kourtney Driscoll, Anna Stephenson and Yi Xuan Yeap. Chloe Barrett also kicked a conversion.

In the second half, Witheycombe came back strongly, but Ellingham defended well. Ellingham restricted them to two tries, while scoring a further two themselves from prop forward Sammie Nichols and their captain Ellis Collins.

FORMER Ellingham and Ringwood player Poppy Cleall starred in England Women's Six Nations' opening 26-13 win over France at Twickenham on Saturday.