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Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st – Birstall on Tour. With Birstall coming to the Island the weekend after next, we need to show them what good hosts Ventnor are. We have an itinery planned (attached) & with all the internationals on the Saturday could prove to be an excellent weekend. Could anyone fancying a run out on either Saturday or Sunday (or both) please contact Babz (07974 084 564 or s.babington05@tiscali.co.uk)

Tour – Birstall are coming here because we are planning on going to them. Nolan has done a fantastic job of booking the hotel & sorting out games etc. Can you all please reply to this email to say YES or NO re tour. If you are going we need £30 from you by Saturday. Babz will be collecting money on Saturday.

County’s Birthday game – a very muddy affair in which his team won by the slimmest of margins 5 – 0! A good day had by all & hopefully one or two new players to come to the club from it. As the pictures on Facebook show the mud was the real winner! & also I did make it onto the pitch even if my presence was somewhat slow!

Food for matches – If anyone can help with food can you please let Waz know. His number is 07929733382. We only have 3 more home games & need someone to do the food for the Birstall Sunday game.

Committee – We have a few roles that people are stepping down from & need some of you to join us. If you are interested, please speak to Babz on Saturday. It would be great to have a few more current players represented. Flanny is also stepping down as 2nd XV after doing a magnificent job over the past 2 years. If anyone is interested in taking on the role of 2nd XV skipper, again please see Babz.

Thanks to all of you that do so much “behind the scenes” to keep this club going. The guys that sort the club, pitch & changing rooms for games, the bar team, & kitchen. All the bureaucratic jobs & financial organisation. Playing rugby is so much more than turning up on a Saturday!

I would like to thank Pete Groundsel for all the excellent work he has done with the pitch this season. Thanks to him we are again playing on a great surface that does our style of play justice.

Finally LETS GET BEHIND THE TOUR! £100 ALL IN IS A FANTASTIC PRICE. ROMANS IS THE THEME & AS EVER WE WILL HAVE A GREAT CRACK…..& REMEMBER….WHAT GOES ON TOUR GOES ON FACEBOOK! I think we have about 15 confirmed places, another 10 would be great, 15/20 more would be fantastic. All welcome any age welcome!

Cheers Babz

PS Don’t forget your RFU Grand Draw raffle ticket stubs and cash. This is the last weekend coming up so bring them to the club when you come to the promotion-crucial game against the Nomads at Watcombe on Saturday (13th March)

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With eight regular first team players missing, Ventnor thought they might drop valuable points in this fixture. The players drafted in were outstanding and with tries from Tom Engelgardt, Ross Harris (2), Gary Freeston, Sam Lines, Mike Walker and Jim Pemberton, this was truly a team effort.

The forwards were dominant winning scrums and driving the maul 20 metres at a time. Gary Ball, Gary Freeston and Jim Pemberton showed cohesion and aggression and were prepared to release the backs at the correct moment.

Locksheath competed well throughout but were mainly on the back foot which made progress difficult. The forward dominance of the Ventnor was demonstrated by the fact that two tries were scored by driving over the Locksheath line. In the backs a dodging run through the middle by Sam Lines with a great side-step released Ross Harris to score and in the second half a sweeping handling move, rounded off by Lines by a 20 metre run which had the opposition grasping at shadows. Fergus Kenny kicked three conversions.

The Wightlink man of the match was wing forward Gary Ball and the A J Wells Black Dog award was given to Ross Harris on his return to the first XV.

The match was generously sponsored by Angela Coaches of Bursledon, Southampton.

Team.

A.Pratt, D.Newbery, S.Jesney, M.Walker (capt.), M.Testa, G.Ball, J.Pemberton, G.Freeston, B.Silk, F.Kenny, B.Lush, W.Fresle, S.Lines, T.Engelgardt, R.Harris.

Subs: R.Jackson, S.Farnworth, J.G.Franklin.

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Ventnor 2nds – represented by many returning veterans – lost this match against Hurricanes Vets at the Fairway.

The Wightlink man of the match was full back Warren Riches (who kicked Ventnor’s penalty) and the A J Wells Black Dog award was awarded to skipper Stuart Babington for his efforts in the front row.

Team.

S.Babington (capt), M.Taylor, R.Engelgardt, N.Ricketts, G.Simler, S.Williams, N.Winter, S.Benfield, I.Mudge, A.Bridges, D.Martin, J.Babington, T.Wells, Z.Davies, W.Riches.

This match was filmed by Gamson Gray Films and is available on DVD:

http://www.gamsongrayfilms.co.uk/2010/03/08/rugby-dvd-sandown-shanklin-hurricanes-vets-xv-v-ventnor-rfc-vets-xv-friendly-06032010/

Related links:

Sandown and Shanklin Hurricanes RFC

Gamson Gray Films

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Ventnor sent a strong 2nd XV for this Merit Table clash with Andover, who were themselves boosted by senior players. After withstanding early pressure, Ventnor started to get their driving game going and after great work from Duncan Kenny and Chris Dobbas, hooker Shaun Williams dived over for a try which he converted himself.

However Andover came straight back demonstrated their forward power as they drove over from a lineout. This set-back seemed to galvanise Ventnor and they finished the half with some of the best rugby played all season with Tristan Price, James Morley, Adam Pratt and Gary Ball taking the ball forward and off-loading in great style to set up Simon Farnworth for a well taken try.

Thus half-time came with the visitors leading 12 – 5. After the break, the game lapsed into a undistinguished phase until scrum half Ben Silk started to get his backline going again with Alan Bridges sending out sweet passes to put centres Dobbas and Sam Pickard into space. With the tempo of the game rising,

Ventnor kept the ball in hand and attacked from all over the pitch leading to a magnificent try by Damien Marriott coming into the line from fullback. This was immediately followed by another from winger Ross Harris who scorched down the left wing, transfixed his opposite number, and blasted over.

To the surprise of all, second row Morley slotted the conversion. Ventnor’s character was then tested as Andover – boosted by several substitutes whilst Ventnor were carrying several walking wounded – put serious pressure on their line. But some great defence – from Rob Jackson, Nolan Winter and Williams in particular – kept them out and the final whistle blew with Ventnor back on top.

The Wightlink man of the match award went to Shaun Williams for his all-action game while Duncan Kenny took the A J Wells Black Dog Award.

Team: A.Pratt, S.Williams, T.Price, R.Jackson, J.Morley, N.Winter, D.Kenny, G.Ball, B.Silk, A.Bridges, S.Farnworth, C.Dobbas, S.Pickard, R.Harris, D.Marriott (capt).

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In a hastily rearranged game due to the late cancellation by Chineham 2nds, Ventnor 2nds produced a superb victory against the Isle of Wight 2nds. Led by the garrulous Nigel Malkin, Ventnor matched a highly competitive IoW side and both teams made chances until the immaculate Warren Riches slotted a couple of penalties to calm the home team nerves.

The tackling was pretty uncompromising and late in the first half the referee produced a yellow card to the IoW No 8 and Ventnor took the opportunity to increase their lead with a thrusting try by Gary Freeston before halftime.

After the break Ventnor upped their game and Zack Davies dived over after terrific approach work by Shaun Williams and substitute Graham Simler. Then Williams went over himself after the whole team took play through several phases before Freeston finished the scoring for Ventnor with his second try. Riches converted two of these second half tries.

The Isle of Wight scored two tries of their own in the last ten minutes through Gary Warvill and Gav Bodrell but only after Ventnor had eased off their scrummaging effort.

When it came to awarding the Wightlink man of the match award, skipper Malkin had a real dilemma. Second rows Simon Farnworth and Jonathan Meadowcroft – although new to the position – showed well in attack and were magnificent in defence.

The back row of Freeston, Aaran Fradgley and Rob Jackson worked themselves to a standstill whilst Ian Mudge and Alan Bridges showed all their experience and poise at halfback.

The talent of the threequarters was exemplified by the attacking thrust of Ross Harris and the dogged defence of Edwin Bodros whilst wingers Davies and Eric Gurney – in his first game for Ventnor – never missed an opportunity to make a nuisance of themselves. Meanwhile Warren Riches at fullback was immaculate under the high ball all afternoon.

In the end the award went to Ian Collins at prop whose power at scrum time swung the balance in Ventnor’s favour and whose work in the loose with his fellow front row players – Williams and Malkin himself – put pressure on the opposition in every phase of play. The A J Wells Black Dog Award went to Nigel Malkin for a full eighty minutes of ceaseless conversation with the referee! The game was generously sponsored by Ventnor RFC stalwart Mike Buttle.

Team I.Collins, S.Williams, N.Malkin (capt), J.Meadowcroft, S.Farnworth, A.Fradgeley, G.Freeston, R.Jackson. I.Mudge, A.Bridges, R.Harris, E.Bodros, Z.Davies, E.Gurney, W.Riches. Substitute, G.Simler

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Ventnor had not played since the beginning of January and showed some rustiness against forthright opponents in this Hampshire Division 2 match. Ventnor were under pressure in a very forward orientated game and Overton were in the lead late into the game with Ventnor’s only points coming from two penalties from Todd Riches. But with Ventnor’s backs showing more promise, in the very last move of the match, Sam Lines burst upfield in a fifty metre break and was only stopped by foul play by the opposition. Thinking calmly under pressure, Ventnor’s captain Mike Walker chose to take the scrum and the ball went down the line for Chris Dobbas to score. Needing the conversion to draw the game, Todd Riches slotted the kick to keep Ventnor’s promotion push very much alive.

Todd Riches was the Wightlink man of the match for yet another great performance whilst Olly Fulljames took the A J Wells Black Dog award.

Team: M.Walker (capt), S.Jesney, D.Newbery, S.Benfield, J.Morley, J.Pemberton, S.Pickard, T.Riches, F.Kenny, D.Marriott, B.Lush, C.Dobbas, S.Lines, O.Fulljames, W.Riches Subs G.Ball, A.Pratt

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This rearranged fixture between Ventnor and their close league rivals was closer than the scoreline suggested but the victory was all-important to Ventnor after their disappointing display against the Isle of Wight before Christmas. Damien Marriott settled Ventnor’s nerves with an early individual try but Fawley came straight back and took the lead with a converted try of their own.

Ventnor’s scrumhalf Fergus Kenny then showed great presence of mind with a quick tap penalty and a run in for a try which was converted by Todd Riches. However Fawley’s dominance of the lineout gave them a good stream of possession and they scored again before half time to take the lead 14 to 12.

After the break, Ventnor began to get their game together and Chris Dobbas scored a brace of tries with his direct running from centre – the second one from an interception from far out. Then Riches scored from the back of a lineout after a searing run from Tom Engelgardt put pressure on Fawley’s defence. All of these second half tries were converted by Marriott.

Jim Pemberton was the Wightlink man of the match for yet another great performance in both attack and defence. Tom Engelgardt took the A J Wells Black Dog award as he heads back to the Army to continue his basic training

Team: M.Walker (capt), S.Jesney, A.Pratt, L.Vanassche, J.Morley, G.Ball, J.Pemberton, T.Riches, F.Kenny, D.Marriott, B.Lush, C.Dobbas, S.Lines, T.Engelgardt, A.Adkins Subs R.Jackson, M.Testa, M.Cooper

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Both teams should be congratulated for deciding to play on a frost-rutted pitch and putting on a great show of attacking rugby. The Isle of Wight started strongly and things looked bad for Ventnor when the home side scored a converted try in the opening minutes. Immediately Ventnor’s traditional team spirit began to show through and captain Mike Flanagan set a great example by bursting up the field and passing to Dave Martin who put full back Warren Riches in for an unconverted try. 

The teams reached the break with the Isle of Wight 13 – 18 down. Ventnor continued to gain ascendancy with Josh Franklin and Matt Taylor combining well in the line out and the experience of Nigel Malkin, Graham Simler and Martin McMeechan giving the pack real purpose and cohesion.

From a line out near the Island line, McMeechan took a fine take and set up a driving maul, the combative Alex Morton coming up with the try. Ventnor were now on top and the three quarters began to come into the game more with Dave Martin getting back into the old groove and Simon Farnworth putting in some determined bursts. However the best move of the match saw the ball move through several pairs of hands allowing Zack Davies to skin his marker and touch down to make the game safe for Ventnor.

The Isle of Wight never gave up however, and despite great defence from Lewis Morton, Shaun Williams and Jonathan Meadowcroft, the home side scored an unconverted try to complete the points for the day. The final minutes of the game featured a great cameo from substitute Tom Engelgardt who showed great energy and commitment on his return from basic training with the Army.

Zack ‘Goon’ Davies was the Wightlink Man of the Match for his all attack and defence whilst Martin McMeechan took the A J Wells Black Dog award for ‘seeing yellow’.

Team M Flanagan (capt), J Franklin, N Malkin, M Taylor, G Simler, A Morton, L Morton, M McMeechan, I Mudge, D Martin, S Williams, J Meadowcroft, S Farnworth, Z Davies, W Riches. Sub T Engelgardt

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