Match report: Ventnor 2nd XV v Isle of Wight 2nd XV

With a squad whose age range spanned over forty years – when the Beatles were no 1 – Ventnor 2nds kick started their Merit Table 3 campaign with a handsome win over the Isle of Wight. In a match sponsored by Ayres Punchard Management, Ventnor eased their nerves with a searing run by Ross Harris for an early unconverted try.

The Isle of Wight were showing well at this point and it took some terrific defence by Shaun Williams, Alex Morton and Sam Pickard – on an outstanding debut for Ventnor – to stem the tide.

This pressure-defence led to Ventnor’s second try when Morton pounced on a loose ball to score his first try for the club. With Ian Collins and Gary Ball gaining ascendancy over their opposite props, Ventnor began to get more of the ball and after good work by young George Creighton at a ruck, Jonathan Meadowcroft put Zack ‘Goon’ Davis over for the home side’s third try which Warren Riches converted.

However the Island came back with an interception try by Eric Wright which was converted by Gary Warvill. Ventnor’s concentration was beginning to waver and the Island would have scored again but for an unbelievable tackle by Pickard on Warvill in the act of scoring.

At the break skipper Mike Flanagan got the home side going again and the second half saw total Ventnor dominance with scrumhalf Nigel Malkin running the game – whilst simultaneously talking the referee to distraction! Malkin’s quick break from a scrum against the head fed Jim McGovern who in turn put Harris away for his second try.

Then Williams chased a kick-ahead to touch down before Rob Newton – on his Ventnor return – did a good impression of a wild rhino to add the sixth and last Ventnor score with half the opposition clinging onto him. Riches converted all three second half tries.

Sam Pickard was the Wightlink Man of the Match whilst Warren Fresle took the A J Wells Black Dog award.

Team I Collins, M Flanagan (capt), G Ball, G Creighton, R Newton, A Morton, S Pickard, J McGovern, N Malkin, S Williams, W Fresle, J Meadowcroft, Z Davis, R Harris, W Riches. Sub M Champion