Nolan shares this latest match report from Ventnor RFC. Ed
Ventnor 1st XV 22 – 22 New Milton and District 1st XV
After last week’s disappointment, Ventnor were looking to improve against a tougher opposition.
Last season two leagues separated these teams and Ventnor showed how far they have come in the past 18 months under Coach Damien Marriott’s stewardship.
However the game didn’t start the way Ventnor intended as quick hands saw New Milton score in the corner for a 0-5 lead. A wake up call that got Ventnor’s heads into the game and after decent phase play a penalty from 35m out was kicked over the posts by Damien Marriott for Ventnor’s first points of the game. More points were added by the home team after a superb line out move saw captain Andrew Gough put through a gap for his first try of the season. Marriott converted for a 10-5 lead.
Defending against the ‘Big Pack’
New Milton’s game plan relied heavily on their big pack crashing up around the fringes.
On multiple occasions throughout the match Ventnor were using this to their advantage with their superb defensive actions and drove them back and forcing penalties in order to clear their lines. After relentless pressure though a driving maul from a line out resulted in a converted try to put the visitors up by two points.
This only hardened Ventnor’s resolve though and a rush defence on the opposing back line lead to Sam Lines intercepting on the Ventnor 22 to sprint clear and under the posts for his first of the game. Marriott converted for Ventnor to regain the lead. Unfortunately soon after New Milton scored again in the corner with an unconverted try to level the game going into half time.
Intensity up a notch
The second half saw the game intensity go up a couple of notches much to the large crowd’s enjoyment. Big hits from both sides made great entertainment.
Throughout the whole game Ventnor had very little possession, but when they did very good meterage was made. This lead to New Milton getting very frustrated and scuffles broke out regularly. It was the visitors turn to take the lead soon into the second half against the run of play for a 22-17 lead.
Yellow card a blessing?
With 20 minutes to go, prop Andrew Gilbert was shown a yellow card after repeated infringements by Ventnor. This would normally serve as a death nail for a team in such a tight game, but it actually had the opposite effect with Ventnor upping the intensity, showing their impressive fitness.
Sam Lines scored again after Todd Riches kicked a grubber through the oppositions defensive lines. Lines collecting the kick and then triple stepping the full back to score in the corner.
Ventnor then put in a huge display of defensive commitment to see out the game. They came away disappointed not to have won the game but hugely happy with the performance level. The large crowd offered encouragement throughout and commented at how enjoyable a game it was as a spectator. Even the Ventnor Football players joined the crowd for the final quarter for which we thank them.
Coach Damien Marriott said,
“We showed we have come a long way with this side to test ourselves against easily the best team in the league and walking away with two points shows the strength and depth throughout our whole club.”
Thanks
Thank you to Team Sponsors AJ Wells & Sons and Ventnor Haven Fishery. Match Sponsors Bill Gee, Cliff Camm, Ron Gisborn, Barry Pike, Paddingtons and Page The Packers
AJ Wells Man of the Match – Sam Lines
Ventnor Haven Fishery Cod Eye of the Day – Paul Berry
Team – Price, Dawson, Gilbert, Pickard, Morley, Pemberton, Gough, Riches, Clarke, Marriott, Blake, Lines, Berry, Urbonas, Harris, Simpson, Dobbas, Richardson.
Image: sjbresnahan under CC BY 2.0
