Ventnor maintain their unbeaten league run
Ventnor RFC 1XV 18-9 Petersfield RFC 1XV January 2000
Ventnor maintain their 100 percent league record and their position at the top of Hampshire League Division 1 with this hard-fought victory against Petersfield RFC 1XV.
The Islanders enjoyed a lot of possession in the first half thanks mainly to some solid scrummaging and good ball retention in the loose. It was converted into three first-half tries for the home side.
John Metcalfe opened with a try in the right-hand corner after quick hands in the Ventnor backs had created the overlap. Warren Fresle was then next to score going over from a set move in the three-quarters after Ventnor had won the scrum inside their opponent’s 22.
Callum Chapman made it a hat-trick of tries for the home side just before half-time after Ventnor had capitalised from good second-phase ball. Despite taking a 15-point lead into the interval it was by no means one-way possession and Petersfield always looked threatening.
Dogged Ventnor tackling kept the visitors at bay but they did narrow the deficit in the second period with three well-converted penalties from their fly-half.
Ventnor suffered another set-back when they lost scrum-half Mark Rogers with a knee injury. but a converted Dave Martin penalty ten minutes from time eased the pressure to see them through to the final whistle.
Image: Isle of Wight County Press cutting
Team: John Metcalfe, Leighton Bryant, Matt Arnell, Ian Payne, Paul Collins, Jim Hennigan, Warren Fresnel, Steve Marsh, Bob Engelgardt, Callaghan Chapman, Scott Jenny, Mark Rogers, David Martin, Glen Hepburn, Nigel Malkin, Dea Magnurson, Danny Newbury
Assistant coach: Pete Marriott
Match report published Friday 21 January 2000 Isle of Wight County Press
Republished January 2024
Our sponsor Andrew, of Gamson Gray Design and Media, has kindly transcribed this report, in January 2024, from the original report to allow for it to be re-published online. This was from a report kindly provided by Warren Fresle. Original report author unknown.
This is from a series of match reports he has kindly transcribed and re-published as part of the online Ventnor RFC News Archives