Ventnor on Track with home win Southampton RFC 17-19 Ventnor RFC 1XV Sat 12 March 2011
Ventnor RFC 1XV won a Hampshire One game they threatened to dominate before nerves and poor tactics had them praying for the final whistle.
Victory means their fate is in their own hands as the season draws to a close and the spectre of relegation recedes.
Southampton RFC opened the scoring with a penalty but Ventnor got the ball wide and gave Sam Lines some open space to run. After several phases, Ventnor got the try they needed when Ben Lush went over. Damien Marriot converting.
Good work from Ventnor’s forwards, particularly Sam Pickard and Mario Testa, Ventnor increased their lead as Samir found a gap for a second try, again converted.
Ventnor’s back row was particularly effective, but the AJ Wells Balck Dog Award winner Paul Berry was perhaps the outstanding contributor at the base of the scrum.
Straight after half-time, Wightlink Man of the Match Ole Fulljames rounded off some great pressure rugby with a touch down, to make it 19-3.
Southampton scored two late tries for a tense finish but Ventnor dug in for a welcome win.
Ventnor squad: Ball, Malkin, Vanassche, Testa, Pickard, Marsland, Fulljames, Riches, Berry, Mitchell, Lush, Samir, Lines, Draper Sub: Collins