Ventnor RFC 1XV 24-10 Andover RFC 2XV match report
Counties 3 Hampshire, Saturday 30 September 2023
A large and vocal crowd witnessed a highly competitive game in which Ventnor’s 1st XV in general dominated without finding a means to secure a deserved victory until quite late in the game against a highly competitive Andover RFC 2nd XV.
Stung by a below-par performance the previous week at Wootton, Ventnor stated strongly inspired by an all-action game from their skipper Lewis Jones.
Jones was a force of nature, barrelling through tackles and providing a target for his support runners led by the second-row pairing of Andrew Teague and Jason Coltham, the latter having his finest match in a Ventnor shirt.
The home team also had the edge at the set piece with George Collett and Ben Savill – at his combative best – providing the power in the front row and Grant Richardson controlling at No 8. The ubiquitous flankers Joe Coghlan and Lewy Morton had productive days in the lineout as well as heading up the tackling figures whenever the big Andover forwards began to gain momentum.
Behind the scrum, Ben Souter was showing that he is settling into his new position at scrumhalf and he and the outstanding Sam Lines were getting their backline into action with Fred Fairman and Ben Cooper running straight into the opposition and keeping the ball close to allow their pack to contest at the breakdown. Dylan Gray – on his debut for the 1st XV – did well in defence as he fielded a number of kicks under pressure and was unlucky to be forced into touch when put into space by the fleet-footed Jake Babington.
For all their territory advantage, Ventnor still took some time to get off the mark as Andover defended their line with tenacity and some attacking decisions went awry. Lines was putting on a masterclass with his variations in attack and one of his kicks into space provided a position deep in Andover’s twenty-two.
The ball was recycled and Jones, Morton and Fairman made ground before Savill powered over for the first try. Cooper converted and the only surprise was that it had taken almost half-an-hour to put points on the board.
There was no further scoring before halftime despite a lacerating run defence out of defence by Lines who found Babington in support but the fullback was unable to get his pass away to runners in space.
For all their territory advantage, Ventnor still took some time to get off the mark as Andover defended their line with tenacity and some attacking decisions went awry. Lines was putting on a masterclass with his variations in attack and one of his kicks into space provided a position deep in Andover’s twenty-two.
The ball was recycled and Jones, Morton and Fairman made ground before Savill powered over for the first try. Cooper converted and the only surprise was that it had taken almost half-an-hour to put points on the board.
There was no further scoring before halftime despite a lacerating run defence out of defence by Lines who found Babington in support but the fullback was unable to get his pass away to runners in space.
The coaches started revolving substitutes at the start of the second half with Will Harrison coming into the front row and Will Broomfield (after his four tries at Wootton last Saturday) making a welcome debut for the 1st XV in place of Richardson who had worked himself to a standstill.
The game had began to take on a more even look and the crowd began to worry that a breakaway try by Andover could tilt the balance but Babington eased those concerns with a brilliant finish after a sweeping move that saw Ed Blake put in a final pass that the full back somehow took behind him and still beat three men in a narrow corridor in the righthand corner.
Almost immediately afterwards Morton took good ball from the restart and fed Broomfield for his first powerful charge upfield.
Further work from Coltham and Jones set up a position from which Lines and Cooper provided a good ball for Cory Turner (on for Gray) to scorch round under the posts. Cooper converted to take the score out to 19 – 0 and the crowd could start to relax.
However, Joe Coghlan took a ten-minute spell on the touchline after a team yellow for infringing the new tackle laws and Andover came back well with tries from a trick lineout and another from a No 8 pick-up.
However, Ventnor had the last word when slick handling from Souter, Lines and Fairman put Cooper into space for a fourth try and a welcome bonus point. Final score 24 – 10.
This was a good performance from an ever-developing Ventnor side in which they earned the right to swing the ball out wide after softening up the opposition with hard running from a pack whose effort throughout was a credit to their fitness.
Team photo provided by Warren Whitmore of The Island Echo
Team: Collett, Jones (capt), Savill, Teague, Coltham, Coghlan, L.Morton, Richardson, Souter, Lines, E.Blake, Fairman, Cooper, Gray, Babington.
Subs: Price (unused), Broomfield, Harrison and Turner.
The A J Wells Men of the Match: Sam Lines and Jason Coltham
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Joe Coghlan
Also many thanks to Ventnor’s Mayor Steve Cooper for attending and for giving such an encouraging speech.
Image: JAMES MORTON
Coaches: Jason Evans, Clive Cardwell-Hill and Neil Evans
Physio: Sarah Watt
Ventnor RFC would like to thank our match sponsors for the day, namely: A J Wells and Sons, A Repoint, No 64 Ryde, Rog Evans, Steve Champion, Lesley Hall, The Flower Garden Newport, The Island Echo, Ventnor Town Council and Wightwater.
Next fixtures – Saturday 7 October 2023
Next Saturday (7th Oct), Jack Rushton’s league-leading Ventnor RFC 2nd XV have their first home game against New Milton’s 2nds, in the Counties 5 Hampshire South West league game.
Having won both their away games already (with bonus points), there is every reason to get excited about the prospects of our 2nds with its eclectic mix of new and old. Whatever the result, you can be sure that there’ll be entertainment.
Meanwhile, Ventnor RFC 1XV are away in their Counties 3 Hampshire league game to Alresford RFC 1XV next weekend (Sat 7th Oct).
Best Regards
James
JAMES MORTON
Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317
All fixtures are subject to change or cancellation at short notice.