Match report Ventnor RFC Combined XV v Lymington Mariners RFC XV Pre-Season Friendly 13 Sept 2025

Match report Ventnor Rugby Club Combined XV 55-7 Lymington Mariners Rugby Club Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 13 September 2025

Ventnor continued their pre-season warm up with a home friendly game against Lymington Mariners

This was the performance that had been building throughout this pre-season when all the hard work from the coaches and players came together to the delight of the vocal crowd at Watcombe. Ventnor were always on the front foot with the combination of Luke Butler’s boot and the hard chasing of Josh Braham pinning the Lymington Mariners back.

Early on, a goal line drop-out allowed Tom Crews to make ground and set up a ruck on the twenty-two-metre line. Ben Souter spotted the mis-match on the blind side and Butler dummied his way to the line. Soon after Lewis Jones took a tap penalty and powered his way over for Ventnor’s second before Lymington struck back with a well taken try of their own to bring themselves back into the game.

However, Harvey Wheeler soon calmed the nerves with a storming run after a pick up from a scrum deep in his own half that took him well beyond half-way. Joe Coghlan – as ever – was there to support and his offload saw Max Wheeler finish what his brother had started with an outstanding try.

Then another Jones short tap penalty saw Ventnor set up a position from which Jason Coltham made ground and slick passing from Souter, Butler, Max Wheeler and Coghlan gave Braham an overlap try that his performance deserved.

The halftime break didn’t lessen Ventnor’s effort and a typical pick up and drive saw Dan Lythgoe score from close range before Joel Cocks (on for Jack Gilbey) took a long pass from Butler and charged over from twenty metres. Then Will Broomfield announced himself back in the team with a brace of tries – the first after yet more exceptional work by Braham and Dan Lythgoe while the second was all his own work where his combination of pace and power took him to the line from thirty metres out. Hayden Lythgoe finished the scoring after a man of the match performance.

Image: James Morton

Team: Rushton (capt), Jones, D. Lythgoe, Coltham, I.Reeves, Coghlan, Gilbey, H. Wheeler, Souter, Butler, E. Blake, M. Wheeler, H. Lythgoe, Braham, Crews.  
Subs: Collett, Brown, Edwards, Castle, Broomfield, Cocks, Jacobson, S.Frampton, Castle, W. Riches, McKinney

Coaches: Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches and Andy Teague

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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 – Hayden Lythgoe
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Joel Cocks
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Bradders and Molly


Match report: James Morton

Best Regards

James

JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317

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