Match Report by Clive Cardwell-Hill on behalf of Ventnor’s team. Ed
Isle of Wight 38 – 8 Ventnor
The silence in the dressing room at the end of the game compared to the jubilation in the home team’s, told you all you needed to know about the result of this end of season encounter. Ventnor were looking to build on their good work of the previous week in beating Gosport and Fareham twos, and after a well attended training session in the week, went into the game full of confidence.
The big IW pack made their intentions clear from the first line-out, with a series of pick and drives eventually leading to a try out wide near the touch line. The conversion was successful, so 7-0 to IW.
A frustrating pattern
From the kick-off, Ventnor gained a scrum from an IW knock on, but, in what was to become a frustrating pattern, a handling error allowed IW to regain the ball. Dan Bell came on as a blood sub for Chris Hill. More powerful drives by the IW forwards, and Ventnor were lucky to escape with the try line begging.
The blood substitution was reversed and another IW forward drive led to a hotly disputed try in the corner with second row James Morley yellow carded as a result. 12-0 to IW.
One man down
Walton came on to bolster the scrum and Harvey Wheeler went off, leaving Ventnor a man down, until a few minutes later, an IW player was yellow carded, evening up the numbers again. Harvey Wheeler returned to the wing. Towards the end of the first half the very promising George Collett came on to replace Tristan Price.
A successful penalty from Tom Crews and Ventnor started the second half 12-3 down, with Max Wheeler on to replace Ed Blake.
The try of the game
Another series of forward drives from IW, despite heroic tackling from Lewy Morton and Joe Coghlan, led to another IW try. 19 – 3. From the restart Ventnor scored probably the try of the game; with quick ball from Coghlan at the line-out, a lovely flat pass from fly half Luke Butler found Hill, who ran a beautiful line to score under the posts. 19 – 8.
Following a Ventnor scrum at the restart more quick ball saw the Ventnor backs threatening, but an intercepted pass almost led to an IW try, prevented by an excellent tackle from Blake, but at the subsequent ruck, Butler was yellow carded. From 5m out the inevitable pick and drive resulted in another try for IW : 24 – 8.
Morley returned to substitute Andy Teague, who had done sterling work in the scrum. A dropout from the Ventnor try line again saw Ventnor unable to counteract the pick and drive: 31 – 8.
More injury and penalties
Teague’s rest was short lived as Hill had to leave the field due to injury, and Butler was restored from the sin bin. With the IW’s heavy pack tiring, Ventnor had opportunities to run the ball after some good work by the front five, but a series of handling errors or poor decisions led to them failing to capitalise on any of them.
The final nail in the coffin was when Ventnor were penalised for offside and quick ball through the hands from the lineout gave IW their final try. Final score IW 38 – 8 Ventnor
A frustrating end
Despite many good individual performances, Ventnor were unable to put together enough phases of play to consistently threaten the IW line.
Either poor handling or poor decision-making put an end to many promising attacks. A frustrating end to Ventnor’s season!
The AJ Wells Man of the Match: Lewy Morton.
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Luke Butler and James Morley.
Team: Price, Jones (capt), Savill, Teague, Morley, Coghlan, L Morton, Hill, Malkin, Butler, H Wheeler, Wyatt, Babington, E Blake, Crews. Subs: Bell, Collett, Walton, M Wheeler.
Image: Jiachen Lin under CC BY 2.0
