Match Report Ventnor 1st XV 5-80 Millbrook 1st XV Saturday 9th September 2017

By GH

Match Report Ventnor 1st XV 5-80 Millbrook 1st XV Saturday 9th September 2017

Ventnor 1st XV 5-80 Millbrook 1st XV

Saturday 9th September 2017

Ventnor were gifted a home fixture as their first game of the 2017/18 season, however they would be facing Millbrook RFC who had just come down from the league above, so a tough game was expected. With a fresh new kit for the season and the weather factor presenting as a mixed bag of wind, rain, and spells of sunshine, anything could happen.

Millbrook quickly took the lead with their first score with in the first few minutes of kick off, this being a bit of a theme throughout the first 20 minute.

However, Ventnor refused to give up and started to step up defensively for the remaining 20 minute of the first half not allowing another score, as well as putting in a few good looking offensive moves. Sadly these did not result in a Ventnor putting points on the board.

The second half started much like the first with Millbrook putting up an early try in the second half. A few injuries started to show in the second half for Ventnor making the situation more difficult, but they still continued to press and show that Ventnor was not a team to give up that easily, even when the score was going against them. The only score of the day for Ventnor would be scored by Ed Blake intercepting a pass off a tap and go penalty from Millbrook within Ventnor’s own half. Unfortunately the conversion was unsuccessful meaning Ventnor had to settle for 5.

It was a tough day in the office for the boys in blue and white, but they were able to walk away knowing they played the full 80 minutes without giving up. All though there are things the team will need to take away and build on, there were some positives for the team to take away to.

The game was preceded with a minute silence as a mark of respect for ex-player Martin McMeechan who had sadly passed away in the previous weeks. A real giant of a man who will not only be missed around the club but the town of Ventnor as a whole. Thank you to Millbrook RFC who helped us show our respect.

AJ Wells & Sons Man of the Match: Mark Tucker

Ventnor Fishery Cod eye: James Green

Thank you to match sponsors Abacus Express, Ayres-Punchard, Island Food Services, Cliff Camm, Ventnor Social Club, Tony Rutledge and Bill Gee

Squad: Tristan Price, James Morley, Mark Tucker, Adam Pratt, Ben Savill, Grant Richardson, Sam Dawson, Lewis Jones, James Green, Andrew Gough, Ed Clarke, Sam Lines, Calvin Edwards, Rob Knight, Justinas Urbonas, Ed Blake, Simon Blow, David True.

Match report: Simon Allan

Images courtesy of Isle of Wight rugby photographer Andrew Cooper Photography