Match report Pre-season Friendly Ventnor RFC Combined XV v Sandown and Shanklin RFC Combined

Match report Pre-season Friendly Ventnor RFC Combined XV v Sandown and Shanklin RFC Combined Friday 22 August 2025

Ventnor shine in ‘Friday night lights’ Pre-season.

The sea off Ventnor may have been calm, but at Watcombe Bottom it was anything but, as Ventnor and Sandown and Shanklin RFC Hurricanes served up a storm in a cracking pre-season contest.

Building on a promising run-out at Romsey RFC and new man Damo at the reins, this new-look Ventnor squad came together at short notice to compete for the inaugural Howdens Trophy

Ventnor flew out of the blocks. Fly-half Tom Scadden whipped the ball wide to Tom Branagh who bulldozed his way through the Hurries defence; once through he put on the afterburners and skittled his way in to score the game’s opening try – Ed Blake converted.

But rugby giveth and rugby taketh away—Ventnor fumbled the restart and handed Hurries the momentum. A string of penalties marched the visitors downfield, and after heavy pressure from a scrum they and successive phases they burrowed over to level things up.

Following the restart a great turnover in the middle of the park by Ian Reeves lifted the home sides intensity. Hurries dominated possession but some ferocious defensive pressure and willingness to get off the line forced an error. This resulted in a Ventnor scrum in a great attacking position; a scrum penalty which was kicked to touch. A great chance to launch an attack on the hurries line. Unfortunately, the lineout was deemed not straight – This bought a close to the first 20 minute’s – A very even first quarter.

The second quarter saw Ventnor enjoy territory but no points. Instead, after a messy exchange of kicks, Hurries pounced down the short side. Some desperate Ventnor defence was undone by a lovely offload, and the visitors crashed over to take the lead. Soon after, only a brave lineout steal from captain Lewy Moreton and dogged breakdown work by the blue and white hoops the stopped Hurries adding to it.

Both teams traded punches like heavyweights in the ring—more Fury Vs Wilder than pre-season friendly. It was back and forth stuff. After being under the pump and chancing their arm Ventnor running it out from their own 5M line a misplaced kick was pounced on by Hurries. Some nice intricate passing lead them down the short side only to be outdone by an outstanding piece of last-ditch defending holding up the certain try.

An error from the goal line dropout saw a scrum behind taken by the visitors – Solid as ever the mighty V pack piled on the pressure (a running theme for the evening). Feeding from this the defensive line adding more pressure forced the error in phase play bringing an end to the first ‘half’.

From the kick off early penalties and errors from Ventnor invited Hurries deep into their half with a 5m scrum. Some dogged defence and intent at the breakdown saw the hoops clear their lines from a penalty.

It was backs to the wall stuff again as Hurries launched several attacks but Ventnor held firm with a continued desire not to concede. Building through the fazes saw hurries work the ball to the left edge which looked to be a certain try only for Hayden Lythgoe playing his first senior game flying like a rocket, putting in a 30m shift at full speed to force a knock on stopping a certain try. 100% effort and desire – The things the home crowd love to see!
Hurries with the advantage took a quick tap, but the dogged defence of Ventnor stood firm resulting in a penalty in the bottom right corner. It was bodies on the line stuff.

Some bone rattling shots coming in from newcomer Noah McKinney & Tony Jacobson who was returning to Rugby for the first time in 20 plus years was some effort. After several turnovers from both sides & some poor missed kicks to touch from penalties by Ventnor, Hurries worked their way down the right-hand side. Some strong carries and patience under pressure Ventnor’s defensive line just ran out of numbers. A nice offload from a strong carry saw Hurries stroll in under the sticks. With the conversion successful it brough an end to the quarter.

The start of the final quarter saw Ventnor with some rare position and building phases, unfortunately Hurries put scrum half Ben Souter under immense pressure at the lineout. Coupled with some poor offloads and strong break down work the visitors managed to turn Ventnor over and relieve pressure.

It was more of the same; stop, start back and forth in possession with neither side building through the phases – Hurries just being that bit more clinical and patient. When not in possession the mighty V more than made up for it. Leading from the front captain Lewy Morton a man on a mission like a terrier off the leash tackling anything that came his way. MOTM Dan Lythgoe solid as a rock body on the line in defence and bulldozing in attack – Glorious to see!

A thumping double shot from Harvey Wheeler and Tom Branagh closing the door on some straight running from the Hurries centre – No way through those two!

After several phases Hurries proved that being patient and building pressure can wear down a side. Some powerful carries, quick ball and a switch off from the defence saw them re-work down the blind side and stroll in for another score.

From a kick deep into Ventnor territory with a strong chase the home side couldn’t clear their lines resulting in a penalty 5m from their line. A simple tap and go with a strong carry saw Hurries dot down over the whitewash again.

Kicking deep from the KO Hurries knocked on which saw Ventnor have a spell of pressure with the ball. Some good running and soft handling saw them go wide to wide resulting in a nice bulldozing run by Joel Cocks only to suffer blue line fever doting the ball down over the wrong line… Sadly this was the last play of the game!

It wasn’t a win, but it was a big step forward. The foundations have been poured and starting to set for this new-look side—a lively mix of youthful energy, wise old heads, and the grit of Ventnor’s seasoned battlers. With the new coaches steering the ship, this desire and work rate will be the standard expected at Watcombe Bottom all season long. Add a splash of patience, a dash of composure, and a sprinkle of confidence, and who knows what this Ventnor side might cook up this season.

Special mentions to debutants: Noah McKinney, Hayden Lythgoe & Tony Jacobson. And the front row of Jack Rushton, Dan Lythgoe and George Collet for playing the full 80 minutes!

Photo by Ewan Castle

The Ventnor squad
Rushton, Collett, D.Lythgoe, I.Reeves, N.Frampton, Coghlan, L.Morton (capt), H.Wheeler, Souter, Scadden, E.Blake, Branagh, Bulpitt, Cooper, Ottley, H.Lythgoe, Cocks, W.Riches, Butler, McKinney, Jacobson, Martin

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image courtesy: Ⓒ 2026: Andrew Cooper Sport Photography | Moral Rights Asserted | All Rights Reserved

The A J Wells Man of the Man – Dan Lythgoe
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Joel Cocks
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day – Ewan Castle

Coaches – Damien Marriott, Todd Riches, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Dean Magnurson, Andy Teague, Fergus Kenny.
Physio – Sarah Watt
Report by Luke Butler

Best Regards

James

JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317