Match report Ventnor Rugby Club 2XV v Chichester Rugby Club 3XV Saturday 15 February 2025
Hampshire Premiership South 2024-25 – Merit Table
In their penultimate game of the 2024-25 season, in the Hampshire Premiership South – Merit Table league, Ventnor RFC 2XV won against Chichester RFC 3XV.
After a tremendous performance in a losing cause last Saturday against a very strong Tottonians side, Ventnor’s 2nd XV reassembled for another severe challenge against Chichester’s 3rd XV.
With several players travelling with the 1st XV, skipper Jack Rushton was forced to shuffle his pack (literally) so that some players ended up playing in unaccustomed positions notably Harvey Wheeler in the second row and Jim Pemberton and Ben Cooper on the flanks.
Despite this, Ventnor started strongly with the spine of the team (Will Broomfield at 8, Rosco Harris at 9 and Harry Ottley at 10) defining the play to put the team on the front foot.
Image: James Morton
Early on, Ottley put the ball behind the Chichester defence and winger Luke Steele chased hard and caught the Chichester full back in possession. Wheeler and Gav Davis forced the turnover and Bob Parker powered over. Ottley slotted a remarkable conversion from far out.
Ventnor kept up the pressure and Tim Davis put in a powerful run up the left, the ball was recycled well and Cooper was able to dive over. Ventnor were on fire now and once again Tim Davis made an arcing run down the left. Smith then carried the ball deep into Chichester territory and a great offload saw Olly Wood sprint round under the posts for his first try for Ventnor and the four-try bonus point for his team. Ottley slotted the conversion to make it 26 – 0.
With the power of Ball, Bradley Francis and Rushton in the front row, the set scrums were going well despite the fact that the referee was being lenient to the Chichester pack whilst the evergreen Warren Riches was providing good ball at the lineout from Francis’ accurate throwing.
With this good stream of possession the Islanders were able to stay on the front foot and there may have been a tendency for players to overdo taking the ball into contact rather than using their outside support. However Ottley restored the artistry of rugby with a pin-point kick ahead for Wood to sprint in and just beat the defence for his second try. Half time came with the score at 31 – 0.
The second half began with a fightback from Chichester where both of their wingers were able to get around the Ventnor defence and score tries – the second one when the ball went to ground just as it looked like Wood was going to grab a hat trick. Ventnor went back on the offence but an opposition forward was injured and Cooper had to leave the field to even up the teams at fourteen versus fourteen.
Harris also came of at this time having put in a remarkable performance considering his hamstring injury the previous Saturday. Allan Bridges took over at scrumhalf and soon Ventnor were camped on Chichester’s line where Tim Davis was unlucky to be stripped of the ball when in the act of touching down for that oh so elusive first try for the club he has served so well.
Unfortunately this was just about the last of the action as two more Chichester players took knocks whilst trying to stop yet another Broomfield charge and the referee blew for time early to end an entertaining game in which the spirit and growing self-belief of this Ventnor team were on full display.
Image: James Morton
Ventnor RFC 2XV Squad Saturday 15th February 2025:
Parker, Francis, Rushton (capt), H.Wheeler, T.Davis, Pemberton, B.Cooper, Broomfield, Harris, H.Ottley, Wood, G.Davis, Smith, Steele, W.Riches.
Subs: Ball, Bridges.
Ventnor RFC 2XV AJ Wells Man of the Match and Red Funnel Moment of the Match 15 February 2025
The AJ Wells Man of the Match: Tim Davis
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Olly Wood and Jack Rushton
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Ewan Castle
Remaining fixtures for Ventnor RFC 2XV for the 2024-25 season
Coaches: Clive Cardwell-Hill, Dean Magnurson, Todd Riches and Andy Teague
Physio: Zoe Jones
Just one remaining fixture for the Ventnor Lions in their 2024-2025 league season in the Hampshire Premiership South – Merit Table, with a local derby against Sandown and Shanklin RFC in a couple of weeks time.
March 2025
Saturday, 08 Mar 2025 Hampshire Premiership South – Merit Table
Ventnor RFC 2nd XV v Sandown & Shanklin RFC 2nd XV
Best Regards
James
JAMES MORTON
Honorary Secretary, Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317
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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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