After two impressive consecutive performances, this was a disappointing fall to earth for a Ventnor side who travelled to Fawley RFC with a strong side. In foul weather and a howling wind in their faces, the islanders never got a foothold in the game where even their vaunted set-piece was neutralised by fussy officiating culminating in tight-head prop Adam Pratt being yellow-carded along with his opposite number.
Ventnor never gave up but they failed to gel despite good individual performances from Jones, Marsh, Colson, Babington, Urbanos and, in particular, Ed Blake. Ventnor’s prospects were not improved by injuries to Hill and Price resulting in Ben Savill having an unusual afternoon as he moved from second-row to prop and finally to wing three quarter!
Even the elements seemed to conspire against Ventnor as the wind veered at half-time to cancel out any advantage and Fawley, who had scored three tries in the first half, continued to press and clinched the game with three more in the second – two of which appeared to contain forward passes in their build-up. The final nail for Ventnor was the yellow-carding of Jake Babington for a try-saving tackle that the referee deemed to be high.
The final score was Ventnor 0, Fawley 41.
A J Wells Man of the Match: Jake Babington
Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Stuart Babington
Team: Price, Jones (capt), Pratt, Teague, Savill, Magnurson, Marsh, Colson, Malkin, Babington, Blake, L.Morton, Hill, Finan, Urbanos. Subs: Griggs, Fletcher
Match report: James Morton
Related links:
Fawley RFC
Ventnor RFC Magazine