Match report Ventnor RFC 1XV 54-14 Tottonians RFC 2XV 18 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 great win on the road at Ellingham the previous Saturday, Ventnor 1XV went into this match with confidence tempered by the knowledge that they were up against a Tottonians RFC squad who had yet to lose in the league.

The Islanders were determined to start fast and a large and vociferous crowd at Watcombe were witness to one way traffic as Ventnor camped in the visitors’ 22 with multiple phase attacks.

Ventnor’s one failing in their performance was the habit of giving away needless penalties which the prodigious boot of the Tottonians fly-half took full advantage of to gain possession but their line-out was under so much pressure from Lewy Morton, Jason Coltham and Joe Coghlan that it hardly functioned and Ventnor were able to lift any siege and move up field with the hard running of Jordan, Tom Branagh and the Wheeler brothers – Max and Harvey.

Ventnor’s next score came from a scrum against the head where the front row of Jack Rushton, Jones and Dan Lythgoe sent the visitors’ pack into reverse and Ford fed Luke Butler whose flat ball put Branagh almost to the line.

From a quick ruck, Ford was able to put Harvey Wheeler in for the try. Once again Ford converted. Tottonians struck back after more Ventnor penalties gave away territory and they were able to maul over for a converted try to bring the score back to 14 – 7.

However Ventnor reasserted themselves with a powerful charge by Branagh and some great footwork by Hayden Lythgoe that allowed space for Jordan who was able to weave over from some way out. Again the metronomic Ford converted.

Ventnor’s confidence was high now and nothing encapsulated it more than a lineout take by Morton on his own five metre line followed by a maul from which Butler brought play infield and then out again to put Hayden Lythgoe into space up the left. The young left-winger put on the afterburners and scorched over from 60 metres out.

Needless to say, Ford converted but Tottonians demonstrated what a good outfit they are with an excellent try of their own despite some excellent defence of their own in which Ventnor’s second-row partnership of Cotham and skipper Morton were outstanding.

Halftime score 28 – 14

Ventnor made some changes at halftime with the quick-silver Braham having to come off with a foot injury. Joe Coghlan went out into the back and Cory Hayden, on debut, went into the back row. Luke Butler also came off with Tom Scadden taking over at fly-half.

Ventnor were soon back on the attack and Jones scored the try that his all-round game deserved with a peel off the back of a lineout maul. Scadden soon made his mark with a lightning break after yet another scrum against the head. He put a little grubber kick through which he somehow gathered to touch down for a try which had the spectators in awe. Rushton came off after yet another massive shift at the coalface and Harry Bexon-Smith came on for his first start for Ventnor and immediately imposed himself with a dominant set scrum.

In their previous games Ventnor’s performance levels could have been accused of falling away in the second half but this time there was a definite lift in the determination and the tackling of Cory Hayman, Bexon-Smith and Jones was seismic in its intent.

With the visitors’ attack beginning to break up, Jordan picked off an attempted kick ahead on his own twenty-two line and somehow made it to the tryline for his hat-trick. Ventnor’s final try came with yet another clean lineout take from Morton from which the ball went left and Scadden put Hayden Lythgoe into space and his inside ball sent the tireless Ben Souter in for an outstanding score.

To their credit, Tottonians never gave up the fight and it took some great defence from Souter and Scadden to prevent a try up the right before the final whistle blew with the score at 54 – 14 of which Josh Ford’s boot had contributed 14 points.

After the match, head coach Damien Marriott had this to say:

“We talked before the game about starting fast and putting our stamp on it early, and they delivered that, that was our most complete performance of the season so far.

We started fast, stayed composed, and kept our standards high right to the end.

The set piece was dominant, defence was physical, and the backs showed real intent. What pleased me most was the intensity in the second half — we didn’t drop off, we got stronger.

The lads can be proud of that one”.

Damian Marriott, Ventnor RFC Head Coach

Image: James Morton

Ventnor 1st XV are now top of Hampshire Counties Three league with maximum points.

Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV Team, 18 October 2025:  

Team:  Rushton, Jones, D.Lythgoe, L.Morton (capt), Coltham, Coghlan, Jordan, H.Wheeler, Ford, Butler, H.Lythgoe, M.Wheeler, Branagh, Braham, Souter. Subs: Bexon-Smith, Hayman, Scadden

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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 – Lewis ‘Jewy’ Jones
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Ben Souter
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Danny Newbery and Paul Berry

Coaches: Damien Marriott, Todd Riches and Andy Teague

Physio: Sarah Watt

Ventnor RFC would like to thank our sponsors for this match, namely:

Ayres Punchard Investment Management, Beach Events, Besty & Spinky’s, Blake’s Longshoremen, Briddlesford Lodge Farm, Cheetah Marine International, Corefix, MPR Stonemasonry, Solent.co, The Bonchurch Inn and TJ’s Gym and Fitness Studio.

Match report: James Morton

Best Regards

James

JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317

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