Match report Tottonians 2nd XV v Ventnor 1st XV 14 December 2024

Match report Tottonians Rugby Club 2nd XV v Ventnor Rugby Club 1st XV Saturday 14 December 2024

Counties 3 Hampshire league 2024-25

Beset by the double blow of the sudden departure of their Director of Rugby and some late withdrawals, Ventnor could have been forgiven for throwing in the towel against a strong Tottonians side and making plans to regroup after Christmas. Nothing could have been further from the truth as their fourteen-man side took the game to the home side and were unlucky not to come away with at least a try bonus point.

Tottonians played exactly the right kind of game against the depleted Ventnor side, flinging the ball wide to get round the edge of the defence but the abrasive tackling of Ben Cooper and Lewy Morton continually knocked them off their stride and, on the rare occasions they did get through, the tireless Ben Souter and Ed Blake were there to offer cover.

While the Islanders found their feet, Max Wheeler probed for position with raking kicks, putting continual pressure on the home back three who got no change at all when they tried to counter attack.

At scrum time, Ventnor’s front row were of George Collett, newcomer Henrik Brown and Dan Lythgoe were more than a match for their opponents and the the unconventional lineout with Lewis ‘Jewy’ Jones (flanker) throwing in and Joe Coghlan (scrumhalf) ruling the airways worked brilliantly throughout.

Ventnor conceded first when Tottonians followed up a great positional kick with a slick move down the left. Ventnor struck back with a sensational run by Souter that gave his forwards a chance to set up a series of pick-and-goes in which skipper Ben Savill and Lythgoe were prominent.

Eventually it was Collett – supported by Ewan Castle and Brown who drove over. Wheeler aced the conversion and the scores were level at 7 – 7.

Unfortunately Ventnor then fluffed the restart and allowed Tottonians to score wide out after a perfect cross kick to the right winger who scored the first of a hat-trick of tries. This was soon followed by an another and more grief for Ventnor when Castle had to leave the field with a shoulder injury after a blatant (and unpunished) early Tottonians shove at a scrum led to a collapse.

Now down to thirteen players, Ventnor once again raised their game and both Iain Reeves and Lythgoe were unlucky not to be awarded tries after another series of pounding close-in drives. Half time came with the score 21 -7

Match report Tottonians 2nd XV v Ventnor 1st XV 14 December 2024

Castle bravely returned to the field for the second half and Ventnor kept up the pressure. Ed Blake made a couple of characteristic charges but the half soon became an exhibition of Jewy Jones’ all-court game, one moment thundering into and through contact, the next tackling and stripping the ball simultaneously. His drive set up Ventnor’s second try when a series of penalties on the home team’s line.

Andy Teague almost made the line but the try was scored when slick hands from Jones himself, Blake who fed Savill to crash over. Sadly this was the last occasion that the Islanders were able to add to their points tally as Castle had to leave the pitch for good and then Blake received a yellow card for one too many questions to the referee.

Hence Tottonians were able to capitalise on the extra space and add to their score. However, as the final whistle blew, remarkably, it was Ventnor on the attack again in a show of undimmed spirit and determination.