Stuart Babington brings us the latest report from Ventnor RFC. Ed
Kingsclere 0: Ventnor 86
With Ventnor’s promotion to Hampshire Division One secured two weeks ago, a no-pressure game away at bottom of the table Kingsclere, was just the type of game Ventnor would have slipped up within the past. But this is a different Ventnor, and on Saturday they put on one of the best performances to date showing exactly why promotion was done and dusted with two games remaining.
In party mood, but with a win required to keep pace with top of the table Romsey, Ventnor started well and never really looked back.
Back on the field of play, Ventnor had a “try fest” with Captain Todd Riches opening the scoring after seven minutes, and then the floodgates opened with a further 13 tries coming from Jake Babington (five) to take his season’s tally to 15, Sam Lines (two) now just one ahead for the season with 16, Sam Pickard (two), then one each for Justinas Urbonas, Ed Blake, 40 plus veteran Dean Magnurson and AJ Wells Man of the Match Marc Wilkinson. Fergus Kenny kicked eight conversions.
The Ventnor Haven Fisheries “Cod Eye of the Day” went to Ross Harris for his tireless running, but inability to get on the end of any of the 14 tries!
Next game
Ventnor now travel to Romsey, with an outside chance of winning the league. Romsey who currently top the table are unbeaten, but, if Ventnor can put on a display we all know they are capable of then who knows the Division Two trophy could be coming back to the South Wight, roll on 2 April.
Squad: A. Gilbert, L. Jones, A. Pratt, S. Pickard, J. Morley, D. Magnurson, A. Newham, T. Riches, M. Wilkinson, F. Kenny, E. Blake, S. Lines, J. Babington, S. Blow, J. Urbonas, R. Harris, T. Price, G. Richardson
Image: sjbresnahan under CC BY 2.0
