Ventnor RFC 1XV 46-7 Gosport and Fareham RFC 2XV Match Report Sat 11 February 2023
Ventnor RFC 1XV were on top throughout this match against a Gosport and Fareham RFC 2XV team which travelled with a bare fifteen but who never gave up, in this Counties 3 Hampshire league game.
Not for the first time, Ventnor’s superiority was founded in the power of their front five where props George Collett and Ben Savill were superb.
Coach Jason Evans had the luxury of Dan Lythgoe on the bench and regularly changed the front row throughout the game but whatever the combination, the result was the same, namely domination.
With skipper Lewis Jones putting in another full-court shift supported by his second-row partnership of Andy Teague and the ever-improving Jason Coltham, the pack enjoyed a rewarding afternoon with plenty of ball throughout.
Ventnor could have scored in the first minute when Ed Blake broke through but Jake Babington was tackled into touch just short. Sam Lines was thus first to score with a sniping run after Collett, Savill and their mates had driven the Gosport pack off their own ball. Tom Crews – in great form all day – slotted the conversion which he then followed with a penalty to take the score to 10 – 0.
Flanker Lewy Morton then dived over after a powerful work by Dan Bell, a great run by winger Ben Soutter and recycling by Collett and Fergus Kenny. Again Crews converted.
Morton followed his try with a yellow card for a tackle that was deemed high by a referee who allowed no margin for error throughout. Without Morton in defence, the visitors took the chance to pile on the pressure and only great work by Kenny stopped a try when he held up the ball over the line.
Into the second half and it was Ventnor who gained from the referee’s interpretation of a high tackle when a great break by debutant Emile Bleriot was stopped and Crews found a good touch deep into the red zone.
The lineout was won and Ventnor set up a powerful maul from which great hands put Blake over. George Finan came on for Coltham and it was his bullocking charge – after a great turnover by Joe Coghlan – that set up Lines for his second try.
Then from the restart, Crews caught the ball and, with a backhanded offload, but Lines away again, this time for his hat-trick.
Alan Fox came on for Soutter and was soon rewarded when another heel against the head – the Collett and Lythgoe combo this time – gave the Ventnor stalwart the chance to take an inside line to score.
Image: JAMES MORTON
The game began to deteriorate as injuries began to take their toll on Gosport and Fareham but there was time for a penalty try for the visitors as both Jones and Kenny received yellow cards for illegal tackles.
The final moment of the match saw Bleriot rewarded for an outstanding match as he supported Lines on yet another mazy run to touch down. Crews slotted his fourth conversion.
A great result for Ventnor who are visibly improving all the time as the mantras from the training pitch begin to take hold.
A J Wells Man of the Match: Emile Bleriot
Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Lewis Jones
Team: Collett, Jones (capt), Savill, Teague, Coltham, Coghlan, L. Morton, Bell, Bleriot, Kenny, Soutter, Lines, Crews, E. Blake, J. Babington. Subs: Lythgoe, Finan, Fox.
Coaches: Jason Evans, Fergus Kenny and Clive Cardwell-Hill
Physio: Zoe Jones
Match Report: James Morton
Ventnor RFC would like to thank our match sponsors for the day, namely: No 24, Norris Family Grocers, Reynolds & Read Ltd, Smugglers Haven Tea Gardens, Solent.co, The White Horse in Whitwell, SPR Scaffolding IoW Ltd, Chocolate Island and Stubbings Bros.
Next Saturday, 18 February 2023, Ventnor RFC 1XV play away to Locksheath Pumas RFC and Ventnor RFC 2XV play away to Lymington Mariners RFC
For more information, please contact JAMES MORTON, Hon Club Secretary, Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317
The fixtures are correct as of the date of the time of publication and are given in good faith. E & OE. All fixtures are subject to change or cancellation at short notice.