Thanks to Nolan for sharing this latest report from Ventnor RFC. Ed
Ventnor 1st XV 68 – 6 Kingsclere
After a week off, Ventnor 1st XV needed to build some momentum before they host fellow promotion hopefuls Overton next week.
The windy conditions gave the game an added dimension that both teams had to adapt to with kicks and passes going wayward.
The first couple of tries didn’t come easily with Kingsclere hoping to get something from the game. Captain Todd Riches and Jake Babington tries gave Ventnor a 14-0 lead, but Kingsclere then had four attempts at penalties of which the slotted two.
After that wake up call Ventnor upped their game and put a lot of pressure on the Kingsclere try line.
Eventually the floss gates opened and tries rained in. Five – yes five! – tries scored by Andy Gough, followed but tries from Sam Lines, Ross Harris and Joe Pettyfer sealed the bonus point win.
Squad – Dawson, Pettyfer, Gilbert, Richardson, Morley, Newman, Gough, Riches, Wilkinson, Kenny, Blake, Lines, Babington, Urbonas, Harris. Subs – Marriott, Jones, Simpson.
AJ Wells Man of the Match – Andy Gough
Ventnor Haven Fishery Cod eye of the Day – Aaron Newman
Thank you to match sponsors Perks of Ventnor, Ron Gisborn, Mike Buttle, Bill Gee, John Whitehouse and Bonchurch Garage
Ventnor 2nd XV 64-19 Fawley 2nd XV
Finally a side traveled to Ventnor’s 2nd XV. Fawley only had 12 and as the rule states, we either have to lend them players or we play with 12 as well to make it fair.
Ventnor had the wind in their sails from the start with an early try from Jacobus and the game carried on in that fashion. Fawley had no answer to Ventnor’s hard-hitting and off-loading style of play. Man of the match Sam Pickard was everywhere stealing ball at the breakdown and running through tackles to score three tries in the game.
Fawley didn’t sit back and when they did get quick ball they used it well and scored three tries themselves, but this wasn’t enough as Ventnor were clinical scoring a total of 10 tries, seven of which were converted by Warren Richies.
Sad news, Ventnor lost their prop, Tristain Price, to a nasty head wound and Sam Beckley to a leg injury. This still didn’t stop Ventnor from playing their game. Try scorers were Lush two, Pickard three, Jacobus one, Riches one, Edwards one, Cripps 1 one and Ward one.
Would like to say a big thank you Fawley for traveling over to play us even with only 12 players.
Squad – Price, Gough, Pratt, Pickard, Beckley, Saville, Jacobus, Cripps, Lush, Dobas, Ward, Riches, Adkins, Edwards, Chillton, Burton and Dovale.
AJ Wells Man of the match – Sam Pickard
Ventnor Haven Fishery Cod eye of the day – Adam Pratt
Image: sjbresnahan under CC BY 2.0
