Results Saturday 11 October 2014

Ventnor RFC 1st XV 42-8 Southampton RFC 1st XV

Continuing their good start to the league this season, Ventnor gained another win at home this week against a strong Southampton side. Unlike the previous two games in which Ventnor started on the back foot and conceding early on, they took to the pitch ready to start from the off and took the game to visiting side.

Out to show they mean business this season Ventnor started the scoring with Danny
Newbury after Damien Marriott’s left boot keeping Southampton in their own half yet again Ventnor won their lineout and drove up the field that ended with Newbury over the try line right from the touchline. Marriott’s kicking was effortless and unwavering throughout the game converting all of the six trys scored. Marriott was running the game from the number 10 position and with clearances from his own half saw Ventnor in the attacking third of the pitch allowing Tom Englegardt to score after hammering runs from the home side. After some retaliation from Southampton and occupying the home sides half for long periods of time, Ventnor still managed to use their strength in the forwards to gain ground and defend well as a team. This then lead to more trys, the first from James Morley crashing through the Southampton’s defensive line to touch down. The second came from Ventnor’s captain Todd Riches, ever the leader, and taking them 26 points clear before the break. He then needed to rally the team to keep them playing with the same mind set for the second half.

As Ventnor suspected Southampton came out strong and played the majority of the final 40 minutes inside their own half. This eventually led to a penalty being awarded and Southampton to put some points on the board. Ventnor’s defence still held strong and even with heavy pressure managed to capitalise on the two chances they got to score with the first from Turner who broke down the wing to score. Then later Marriott would score from the back of a ruck after giving a dummy pass to slip through the gap. The Visitors managed to get a try for themselves with the last play of the game driving over from a line out to end the game with 8 points.

Wight Link Man Of The Match: Danny Newbury (for staying on the pitch for the full 80)

A.J.Wells Black Dog Award: Todd Riches (Birthday Boy)

Team: D.Newbury, L.Jones, T.Price, J.Morley, S.Pickard, P.Berry, G.Davies, T.Riches, A.Marriott, D.Marriott, J.Babington, F.Kenny, J.Pemberton, E.Blake, T.Engelgardt
Subs: A.Pratt, N.Turner, R,Harris

Match Sponsors: Flowers For You, Ingrams Building Contractors, Ventnor Kitchen and Bathrooms, The Ale and Oyster

Tottonians RFC 4th XV 47-0 Ventnor RFC 2nd XV

Ventnor 2nd XV travelled with a strong yet young and inexperienced side to a Tots team who had failed to win a game this season. However, the age and experience of the Tots team was to prove the difference in a very one sided physical game. The home team regularly running in tries with continued good work from the forwards before unleashing a very quick skillful back line. Ventnor very rarely threatened the Tots try line and the score line could have been a lot worse if not for some strong defending by the Ventnor team.

Sadly the game marked the end of Allan Bridges tenure as Captain as he has had to step down due to family commitments. The club would like to thank him for the time and effort he has put in over the past seasons.

Wighlink Man of the Match: David Adkins for showing vast improvement in only his third full game of rugby.

AJ Wells Black Dog: Allan Bridges