Match report Ventnor RFC 1XV 25 – 7 Winchester RFC 3XV 22 November 2025

Match report Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV 25 – 7 Winchester Rugby Club 3XV

Counties 3 Hampshire League 2025-56, Saturday 22nd November 2025

After a succession of runaway wins in the league, Ventnor faced a stern challenge against a powerful and fired-up Winchester team who were lying in third place in the table and determined to join the leaders.

Ventnor had to reshuffle their team when Alec Bulpitt had to pull out with a recurring rib injury and Harvey Wheeler stepped into the starting fifteen but it seemed to make little difference to the home team as they took an immediate lead when Jewy Jones powered over after a well-executed driving maul following a Cody Haydan take at a line-out. However Ventnor were not able to capitalise on their dominance of possession as Winchester’s defence held firm and the Islanders attempted some over-ambitious passing moves despite the dreadful conditions.

Several balls were knocked on or lost in the tackle and it took an outstanding performance by Ventnor’s scrum to keep the momentum going as Dan Lythgoe, Jones and Jack Rushton drove back their opposition front row time and time again.

Things were not quite so rosy in the line-out where the gusty conditions hampered clean ball and the game turned into a dog-fight in the mud with Ventnor always shading the game but unable to turn their advantage into points. Indeed it took a great covering tackle from Tom Scaddebn to halt a Winchester breakaway and Tom Crews, Ben Souter and Hayden Lythgoe and to be at their best to clean up the long punts from the Winchester fly-half. Ventnor were awarded a penalty for a Winchester offside and skipper Lewy Morton – mindful of the lottery at the line-out – called up Josh Ford who duly converted it to bring the half-time score to 8 – 0.

The second half kicked off with a try to Winchester after a fumbled kick-off by Ventnor and a good move by the visitors down the right. This only seemed to galvanise the home team and they began to use their driving game to wear down the opposition. Harvey Wheeler, Jason Coltham, Jones and Dan Lythgoe were prominent with excellent support from Jacob Jordan and Hayman so that Scadden was able to get his backs into the game and Tom Branagh with his power and pace created holes in the defence which resulted in a try to Max Wheeler who stretched over after a series of close-in rucks.

It was all Ventnor now although Winchester’s aggressive defence didn’t make it easy but Morton was able to power over to open up a lead. Ventnor now needed to look for the bonus point try and it came after good clean up work by George Collett and some typical hard-running by Ed Blake that allowed Dan Lythgoe a chance to burrow over for a try that Tom Crews converted.

Final score 25 – 7

Image: James Morton

Ventnor 1st XV are now top of Counties 3 Hampshire league 2025-26.

Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV Team, 22 November 2025:  

Team:  Rushton, Jones, D. Lythgoe, L. Morton (capt), Coltham, Haydan, Jordan, H. Wheeler, Ford, Scadden, H. Lythgoe, M. Wheeler, Branagh, Souter, Crews.  Subs: Collett, Bulpitt, E. Blake

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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 – Josh Ford
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Nancy Finan, Alan Fox and Ted Funnel

Coaches: Damien Marriott, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches, Andy Teague and Dean Magnurson

Physio: Sarah Watt

Coaches: Damien Marriott, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches, Andy Teague and Dean Magnurson

Physio: Sarah Watt

Match report: James Morton

Ventnor Rugby Club Match Sponsors 22 November 2025

As ever, we need to thank our match sponsors for Saturday – namely: Jeannette Adams, John Whitehouse, LJ Plumbing, Lois & Andy Mullins, Mark Cufflin, Mickey Buttle, Mike Toomey, Rob Engelgardt, Red Funnel, Rog Evans, Ron Gisborn and Ron Hunt.

Next Saturday  29^th November 2025, Ventnor 1sts play Alton at Watcombe

Best Regards

James

JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317

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