Thanks to Ed Blake for this report from Ventnor RFC 1st team and thanks to Adam Pratt jnr for the report on the 2nd team. Ed
Petersfield 1st XV 50-10 Ventnor 1st XV
Ventnor started off the game well with good phase play gaining territory from Petersfield. For the first 20 minutes the game remained pointless, but hotly contested with strong carries from Sam Pickard, Paul Berry and Ed Blake.
Defence was strong as well as Dean Magnursson, Tristan Price and Lewis Jones amongst others stopping Petersfields big runners in their tracks. Justinas Urbonas fielded the ball well at unfamiliar full back with Marc Wilkinson making a strong comeback with his great distribution.
However, the Ventnor had to reshuffle after Andy Gilbert had to go off injured. AJ Wells Man of the Match, James Morley, stepped up to go tight-head and played the position well. Unfortunately Petersfield used this to their advantage and scored four tries in quick succession. Berry scored in the corner to give Ventnor hope. Jake Babington ran some decent lines keeping up the pressure on the home teams defence.
The second half was a bit more of a closer affair. Captain Andrew Gough had a try disallowed but Sam Lines managed to score for his sixth try of the season. Petersfield played expansively on the wide pitch and added a couple more tries to their score. The final score probably doesn’t give Ventnor credit for the effort levels they put in but that’s the game.
AJ Wells Man of the Match – James Morley
Ventnor Haven Fishery Cod Eye of the Day – Andrew Gough
Team – Price, Jones, Gilbert, Morley, Pickard, Magnursson, Berry, Gough, Wilkinson, Lines, Blake, Riches, Babington, Urbonas, Newman
Ventnor 2nd XV 12-40 Gosport and Fareham 3rd XV
On a glorious autumn afternoon at Watcombe Bottom Ventnor 2nd XV had their first home game of the season. Lead by Captain Rob Simpson Ventnor fielded a side of 13 as a few players had drop out on the morning to play for the 1st XV.
The game was played in good spirits with Gosport using their experienced squad to get the better of the inexperienced Ventnor side. Ventnor man of the match Ross Harris score 2 tries and Grant Richardson converted 1.
Team: Gough, Tucker, Pratt, Blake, Richardson, Adkins, Saville, Harris, Edwards, Simpson, King, Flanagan and Cory
Image: sjbresnahan under CC BY 2.0
