IT took a while for a new-look Trojans side to gel – but once it had the club marched straight into the second round of the Hampshire Bowl.

Fordingbridge deservedly took the lead at Stoneham Lane as their forwards dominated the opening 10ten minutes.

However, the hosts – which included ten10 changes, three of them positional, from the previous weekend’s league victory at Weybridge – soon bonded and triumphed 42-21.

Trojans replied to Bridge’s opening pushover try when scrum half Toogi Long kicked a penalty and they took the lead when they overturned a line-out and moved across field with Long going over in the corner.

Straight from the kick-off, Johnny Smyth broke out of the Trojan 22, passed to Dave Linton who found supporting Elliott Culley and he touched down under the posts. Long converted and added two extra points to a try of his own.

Bridge took advantage of Trojans’ lack of discipline just before the break and their strong forwards pushed over from a scrum after being awarded an extra 10ten metres by the referee.

Fordingbridge started the second half strongly but were punished for failing to turn their possession into points – second row Neil Andrews bursting across in the corner.

George Goff finished off another similar piece of play to give his side another five points.

A counter attack then ended with Smyth going over for his second try. Long’s conversion took his tally to 22 points.

Fordingbridge scored a converted try just before full time.

l Ellingham & Ringwood moved into the next round of the Junior Vase with a 33-29 victory at Woking.

Early pressure netted eight points after scrum-half Josh Butcher kicked a penalty and winger Matt Moore crossed in the corner.

Woking grabbed a converted try but Ellingham went on to dominate the first half with tries from Jonny Joiner on the other wing and full back Dominic Pitt.

Butcher added another penalty and a conversion for a 23-7 lead at the break. And when captain Callum Butler powered over for another try in the second half, the game looked over at 28-7. However, Woking had other ideas. Playing with a strong wind, they clawed their way back with four tries.

The final one was converted to give them a 29-28 lead with two minutes remaining.

From the restart, Ellingham won a scrum and Pitt finished a good move to score the winner.

Trojans Ladies remained on top of Championship South 1 with a 40-3 bonus point win at home to Hove.

Results London & SE Junior Vase: Chipstead 44 Ventnor 7, New Milton 15 Reeds Weybridge 12, Old Georgians 42 Locks Heath Pumas 5, Woking 29 Ellingham 33.

London & SE Senior Vase: Trojans 42 Fordingbridge 21, Eastbourne v US Portsmouth hwo.