Match report Ellingham and Ringwood RFC 2XV 14-41 Ventnor RFC 1XV 11 October 2025

Match report Ellingham and Ringwood Rugby Club 14-41 Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV Saturday 11 October 2025

Counties 3 Hampshire League 2025-56

After their dominant victory on the previous weekend, Ventnor 1XV travelled with a degree of confidence tempered with the knowledge that Ellingham & Ringwood RFC 2XV posed a formidable challenge with their powerful, experienced pack and strong-running backs. It was therefore important to set the tone from the offset and this was achieved in the first minutes with a ground-shaking tackle from Hayden Lythgoe on their outside centre – who never came his way thereafter.

This defiance was mirrored at an early set scrum where George Collett, Jewy Jones and Dan Lythgoe took a heel against the head to put Ventnor on the front foot. Joe Coghlan took clean ball from a lineout and Tom Branagh made ground in midfield. The ruck speed was excellent and Dan Lythgoe crashed over to score.

Then Josh Braham and Ben Souter caused a mix up in the Ellingham defence with a strong chase of a Max Wheeler kick ahead and the ever-present Coghlan was on hand to touch down and Ventnor were 10 points to the good after fifteen minutes.

However Ellingham hit back with an excellent try from a blind-side move from a set scrum which was converted and Ventnor knew they were in a fight. The response was immediate with good ground made by Harvey Wheeler off the back of the scrum followed by a series of pick and goes that gave Jacob Jordan a chance to fly round the corner to touch down. Max Wheeler converted.

Again Ellingham came back strongly with territory made by some superb touch finders from their fly-half but Ventnor’s defence was up to the task and time after time they were repelled until their will was broken and Ventnor were able to reestablish their superiority. Max Wheeler took the ball up – sitting down the first defender with a massive hand off – before it was recycled and Josh Ford was tackled just short of the line.

Again the ball came back and Ford did a little double-pump to give Coghlan a clear run to score his second try of the day. Max Wheeler converted and in the next move gave a delayed pass to Jordan – running a hard line – for the flanker to storm over for his second try. Wheeler again converted so the score was 7 – 29 at the half-time break.

In the huddle, coach Todd Riches asked for more direct running and this was immediately taken onboard and epitomised by Harvey Wheeler, Jason Coltham and Branagh who caused havoc in the defence to allow Max Wheeler space to put Olly Wood over for a try. However, Ellingham came back with a try of their own after an interception to make the score 14 – 36. Noah McKinney, who had answered the call to arms after a last-minute drop out, came on for the excellent Braham and Joel Cocks – the ultimate utility player – came on for Collett whose support play had been tremendous throughout.

Ventnor were on the attack again and Jordan and Branagh made the hard yards to give Ford the chance for Jewy Jones to pirouette out of a tackle and crash over. Jordan had to leave the field with a back spasm and Collett returned to the front row and Cocks – already showing off his versatility – went into the second row as skipper Lewy Morton went onto the flank. Morton’s work rate throughout had been immense and he and Coghlan had dominated the line out to the extent that Ellingham’s throwing-in had simply fallen apart by the end of the game.

The game finished with Ventnor once again on the attack after a thoroughly convincing performance which promises more as the season progresses. 105 points in two games is an impressive tally and after two games they stand proudly at the top of the table as they prepare for next Saturday when they take on Tottonians 2nds – the only other unbeaten team in the league.

Image: James Morton

Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV Team, 11 October 2025:  

Collett, Jones, D. Lythgoe, L. Morton (capt), Coltham, Coghlan, Jordan, H. Wheeler, Ford, M. Wheeler, Wood, Branagh, H. Lythgoe, Braham, Souter. Subs: Cocks, McKinney

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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 – Josh Ford
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Lewy Morton
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: John, the Angela Coaches Driver

Coaches: Todd Riches

Physio: Sarah Watt

Match report: James Morton

Ventnor Rugby Club Fixtures Saturday 18th October 2025:

Best Regards

James

JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317

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