Match report Ventnor RFC 1XV v Southampton RRFC Saturday 16 November 2024
Counties 3 Hampshire league 2024-25
With a few players unavailable through injury and work, Ventnor travelled to Southampton with Callum Martin as their only substitute, but this didn’t prevent the Islanders put up a sterling performance against a strong Southampton side in a game in which the scores were level until the very closing stages when their enormous physical effort began to tell.
The game began with both sides trading blows in which the defences were to the fore. Southampton were sending their big forwards into the heart of the Ventnor fringes but were continually repelled thanks to the abrasive tackling of Lewy Morton, Joe Coghlan, Dan Lythgoe.
If the ball went wide, Alec Bulpitt and Tom Crews were up to the task and it took a couple of penalties to the home team to take a position under Ventnor’s post.
The Ventnor scrum was more than holding its own with Adam Pratt providing the cornerstone from which his fellow front rowers George Collett and Lythgoe could go to work. However at this scrum, the Islanders were penalised for a brake foot offence and the Southampton scrum-half darted over from a tap penalty.
Whether the tap was taken from the right place is a moot point . . . The try was converted and Southampton were in the lead 7 – 0.
By this time, the very promising Iain Reeves was off with a jarred shoulder meaning a reshuffle. Ventnor’s A J Wells man of the match, Ewan Castle came into the second row and Martin took his place on the left wing.
Ventnor’s habit of giving away penalties at key times was still evident and Southampton took another three points after over-enthusiasm in the defensive line. Ventnor appeared to lack a bit of energy and coach Neil Evans took the opportunity to rouse his troops which resulted in an immediate response.
Max Wheeler clipped a post with a penalty attempt and Ed Blake almost got round the defence with a characteristic arcing run. His attempted pass to Cory Turner just failed to connect and he was bundled into touch ten yards out.
From the position, Ventnor laid siege on the Southampton line in which the home team received their first yellow card from repeated offences as Ventnor’s pack set up a series of bruising pick-and-goes with skipper Ben Savill, Lythgoe, Pratt to the fore.
Eventually the home defence cracked and Jason Coltham used his full 6ft 4in to stretch over for an excellent try. So at halftime the score was 10 – 5 with Ventnor in the ascendancy.
Image: James Morton
The second half started as the first had finished. Wheeler was getting his kicking game working and the chase was excellent with Ben Souter, Crews and Bulpitt continually putting the catcher under enormous pressure.
Coupled to this, Ventnor’s line-out was nigh-on perfect with Pratt taking on the throwing duties (with Lewis Jones out with bruised ribs) and finding his jumpers with unerring accuracy.
A Savill catch and drive set up another position from which Ventnor battered the fringe defence despite repeated Southampton offences.
The referee eventually lost patience with the home team, brandishing another yellow and awarding a penalty try. Ventnor now led 10 – 12. Southampton came back with a try of their own as Ventnor began to tire.
Reeves bravely came back on but Ventnor went further behind with an excellent penalty from the Southampton fly-half before hitting back with another pick and go try from Collett who had been very visible all game – both for his all-action performance and his new coiffure.
The score was now 17 – 17 but Ventnor were not to add to their total as their tackling at last began to look unconvincing and Southampton were able to break through for a brace of late tries which frustratingly took the score to 25 – 17 so that the Islanders weren’t able to take a deserved losing bonus point. However this didn’t take anything away from a performance which defined a unity of purpose that had put a strong Southampton under so much goal-line pressure they received a total of four yellow cards (one player being yellowed twice and thus red carded late in the game).
It was significant that the referee took time out to interrupt their post-match debrief to praise Ventnor for their sportsmanship, respect and discipline throughout the match – something that he will be recording in his match report.
After the match, Ventnor’s Director of Rugby stated,
“This club is certainly moving forward and today’s game was a clear testament to this. Our young side was completely in control for large sections of the game and I am very proud of the players’ improvement in games and in training”.
Neil Evans, Ventnor RFC Directory of Rugby
Ventnor RFC 1XV Team:
Lythgoe, Collett, Pratt, Reeves, Coltham, Coghlan, L.Morton, Savill (capt), Souter, Wheeler, Castle,
Bulpitt, Crews, E.Blake. Sub: Martin
Coaches: Neil Evans, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches and Dean Magnurson
Physio: Sarah Watt
Linesman: Andy Wall
Ventnor RFC 1XV AJ Wells Man of the Match and Red Funnel Moment of the Match 16 November 2024
The A.J. Wells Man of the Match: Ewan Castle
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Ben Savill
Ventnor 1sts host Eastleigh 2nds next Saturday (23rd Nov) at Watcombe while Ventnor 2nds will play Portsmouth 3rds – also at home. Ventnor 1sts will be introducing their new 50th Anniversary kit next weekend.
Best Regards
James
JAMES MORTON
Honorary Club Secretary Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317
Ventnor Rugby Club, Watcombe Bottom Sports Centre, Watcombe Bottom, Whitwell Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 1LP – view on Google Maps
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