Match Report – Ventnor 2nd XV v Overton 2nd XV

Posted by James on November 1, 2009 · Leave a Comment

24^th October 2009

Ventnor 2^nd XV 38 – Overton 2^nd XV 5

For this Merit Table 3 match, sponsored by Leslies Motor Group, Ventnor loaned Overton some players because the visitors travelled over a few short. Therefore it was ironic that Overton opened the scorer through a try from Tom Engelgardt, a Ventnor stalwart. However these were the last points the visitors would score as Ventnor began to dominate. However they made hard work and the score remained the same until Martin McMeechan, frustrated by his teammates poor decision making, took matters in his own hands and bashed over for a couple of tries. With scrumhalf Graham Simlar directing play, the second half saw more pattern to Ventnor’s game and the scores began to mount up. Firstly Allan Bridges made a searing break until gravity took over and Arran Marriott darted over in the corner. Then skipper Mike Flanagan, Ian Collins, Alex Morton and Gary Ball took the game to the opposition and Nolan Winter, to the surprise of all (including himself), ran in from forty yards. After smart defensive work from Jonathan Meadowcroft, winger Edwin Bodros’ thirst for work paid off when he ran eighty metres to arrive under the posts where – in a generous show of entente cordiale – he handed the ball to Engelgardt to score for Ventnor in Tom’s last game before joining the army. Finally, in the best movement of the game, continual phase play culminated in an excellent try by Shaun Williams. Fullback Warren Riches, who was strong all day, slotted four conversions. Promisingly for Ventnor, the match featured a great debut performance by Ben Pearce whilst Luke Marsland showed that he has potential in his first ever game of senior rugby.

Deservedly Martin McMeechan was the Wightlink Man of the Match whilst Shaun Williams took the A J Wells Black Dog award.

Squad I Collins, S Williams, M Flanagan (capt), B Pearce, M McMeechan, A Morton, G Ball, G Simlar, A Marriott, J Meadowcroft, L Marsland, E Bodros, T Engelgardt, W Riches, N Winter, A Bridges