Thanks to Nolan for this latest report from Ventnor RFC. Ed
Ventnor 1st XV 16 – 3 Alresford 1st XV
The game started off with a lot of hard hits and tackles as both teams hit the ground running and shared possession equally.
After an infringement at the break down Alresford had the first chance of points ten minutes into the game. The conversion of the penalty put them up by three points.
Unfazed by this Ventnor went straight back at them with their well organised game plan. Alresford’s defence was well up to the challenge and didn’t yield much. Set pieces had to be spot on from both sides as the athletic packs were well-matched.
Ventnor’s first points of the game came from the boot of Fergus Kenny who slotted over a penalty with ten minutes left of the first half. The first half finished 3-3. The game was halted however by the retirement of the referee through injury. The referee from the 2nd XV’s match was called down to see out the rest of the encounter.
Second half action
After a 20 minute half time interval, the match kicked back off with the tempo of the match much the same as the first half, with Ventnor having more possession.
Line breaks had been threatening to yield points for Ventnor all game and when the support was matched a few passes later Lewis Jones scored the first try of the match in the corner.
Another penalty for Kenny kept the score board ticking over, as again Ventnor found themselves in the oppositions 22 and were looking for more tries. Danny Newbery was injured in an off the ball incident; the result was a yellow card for an Alresford prop and three points.
Rob Simpson then helped himself to five points as he sniped round the base of a ruck to drive over the whitewash. This was to be the last points of the game. Even after sustained pressure on the Ventnor goal line from Alresford, the defence held strong and gave Ventnor a much needed morale boost.
The Ventnor coaches would like to congratulate the team on a well rounded performance that showed great character and strength. If this commitment and performance is repeated then great things can be achieved by this squad.
Man of the match: Sam Pickard for his fantastic return to playing after injury.
AJ Wells Black Dog award: James Blake who made his first team debut.
Team: Newbery, Williams, Gilbert, Simpson, Morely, Pickard, Berry, Riches, Kenny, Lines, Babington, Pemberton, E.Blake, Harris, Bolton. Subs – Jones, Pratt, J.Blake
Ventnor Lions 26-10 Alresford 2nd XV
Ventnor Lions got back to winning ways against a spirited Alresford second team on in their Hampshire Merit table on Saturday. Alresford travelled to the island for the first time in many seasons with a mostly young and talented squad.
The Ventnor Lions losing a further 3 key players to first team duties on Saturday morning had to make some forced changes to the pack to accommodate the sudden changes leaving them with a different side to what was at training during the week. Fortunately both Allan Bridges and Martin Newbery returned from holiday in time to help their team out.
The first half both teams where evenly matched with the visitors opening the scoring early through a breakaway try. Ventnor soon capitalised through hooker Joe Pettifer sprinting round the opposition backline to score in the corner with James Rogers adding the conversion. Unfortunately that was the extent of James Rogers contribution to the match as he left the field soon afterwards with a head injury. The rest of the first half was marred by stoppages for injuries and Ventnor lost the colts flanker, Lachen Downs, in this period as well.
Ventnor Lions came back hard after the brake and replacement flanker Aaron Newman soon crashed over after a good passage of play dictated by veteran flyhalf, Allan Bridges. Alresford took the fight back to Ventnor, scoring quickly by taking a quick penalty on the Ventnor goal line. After that it was all Ventnor Lions as Joe Pettifer and Mark Turner both crossed the whitewash.
Team: Jac Stemmet, Joe Pettifer, Tristan Price, Chris Dobas, Martin Newbery, Lachen Downs, Warren Riches, Mark Turner, Ed Clarke, James Rogers, David Adkins, Matt Cripps, Gavin Davis, Rob Ward, Tom Engelgardt
Subs: Aaron FF Newman, Allan Bridges
Image: sjbresnahan under CC BY 2.0
