Thanks to Nolan for this latest report from Ventnor RFC. Ed
Ventnor 1st XV 22-5 Overton 1st XV
The afternoon started off uneasy for the home team and took them a while to get a grip on the game. The first points came from a penalty that Damien Marriott converted.
Ventnor took charge from this and managed to then score not long after. Todd Riches with a high kick that hung in the air out to the wing where it bounced up for Ed Blake to catch and make a surging run through a number of opposition players to score the opener.
Injury to Tristan price meant he could no longer play and was replaced with Andrew Gilbert to take over prop duty. The second try came from a great team performance which saw James Morley break through the line to score. Overton were not a team to just lie down and take defeat and battled hard keeping Ventnor at bay for the remainder of the half.
The visitors came out strong after the break and took the first points of the half with a well worked try. Sam Pickard came on to replace Neil turner and made a good hit on the opposition for his first play of the game. Ventnor seemed to think the game already won, which was not the case and the rest of the game saw the two sides kicking for territory and both sides coming close to scoring. Eventually after a well placed kick from Aaron Marriott to the corner, Ventnor then managed to win the line out by getting Tobias Penner high in the air to steal the ball.
After securing the ball and being patient waiting for an opening Damien Marriott ran blind of a ruck to score and then convert the last points of the game. Darrell Bolton came on for the remaining 10 minutes of the game to see out the win. Another win for Ventnor who are still looking to improve and play the kind of free flowing rugby which shows them at their best.
Thanks to Match sponsors: Ventnor Golf Club, Northwood Garage, Ventnor Tesco Express, Paddingtons of Ventnor
Wightlink Man Of The Match: Damien Marriott(controlling the game from 10)
A.J.Wells Black Dog Award: Paul Berry (just a few knock ons)
Team: D.Newbury,S.Williams,T.Price, J.Morley, N.Turner, T.Penner, P.Berry, T.Riches, A.Marriott, D.Marriott, M.Turner, R.Harris, J.Babington, T. Engelgardt, E.Blake subs: S.Pickard, A.Gilbert, D.Bolton
Ryde RFC 28-5 Ventnor 2nd XV
The day should have been a double header but with Overton unable to field two sides Ventnor 2nd XV travelled to Ryde who had also had their opposition cry off. The game was played in fine spirit with players swapping sides and trying out new positions.
As a result the score line was irrelevant as all the players wanted was a game of rugby. With Sandown and Shanklin’s 2nd XV also off there was even chance for one of their players to get some game time, a fine show of Island rugby coming together.
Image: sjbresnahan under CC BY 2.0
