Match report Ventnor Rugby Club 2XV 45 – 7 Christchurch Rugby Club 8 November 2025
Hampshire Premiership South League 2025-26 – Merit Table
With several regular second teamers drafted into the squad for the 1st XV trip to Eastleigh a reshuffled side took the field at Watcombe Bottom, hoping to repeat the success of the previous week against Southampton.
In the first five minutes Ventnor started to assert their dominance with strong carries from George Collett, Chris Skelley and Iain Reeves. At the set piece the front row of Bob Parker, Henrik Brown and Skelley, backed up by Reeves and Ewan Castle in the boiler room, were proving a handful for the Christchurch pack.
A dominant scrum against the head created problems for the visitors in their own in-goal area and veteran (the Reverend) Warren Riches was able to wrestle the ball away and touch down under the posts, making his subsequent conversion that much simpler. 7-0
Christchurch had the opportunity to strike back straight away after Ventnor strayed offside, but the resulting penalty kick was pushed wide.
The half-back combination of Allan Bridges and Riches were finding their rhythm to distribute a regular stream of possession to centres Fred Fairman and Ben Mumford (making his home debut) who were pressurising the Christchurch midfield and after sustained pressure, back-rower Alec Bulpitt (later to be named Man of the Match) bulldozed his way over carrying two defenders with him. 12-0
Parker then made way for Jac Stemmet which did little to lessen the Ventnor pack’s dominance, although this was slightly muted by having to go to uncontested scrums as a result of injuries in the Christchurch front row. This may have led to some lethargy in the home ranks as they went to sleep just before half-time and some sloppy tackling allowed the visitors to take advantage of an overlap and cross the line. The conversion was successful and Ventnor turned around at the break in front 12-7
It was a dominant first half in terms of possession and territory but Ventnor were guilty of taking the ball too far into contact and not using the pace of their back row and three quarters. Some direct talking at half-time and Jack Davis came on to replace Fairman in the centre.
An early opportunity to extend their lead was wasted after the home team failed to make the most of an overlap following a quickly taken tap penalty.
It wasn’t long before Ventnor did manage to score again when some quick handling by Davis and Mumford, following a break from a line-out by Skelley, put Olly Wood into space and cross for a fine winger’s try. Riches converted to make the score 19-7. With the visitors flagging, the work rate of the back row of Collett, Bulpitt and the evergreen Dean Magnursson, coupled with the speed of the Ventnor backs, allowed the flood gates to open. Centre Davis made the most of this and repeated his feat of the previous week in scoring a hat-trick and proved , yet again, that there is no substitute at any level of rugby for pure pace. Three easy conversions for Riches and Ventnor had romped to a 40-7 lead.
Defensively, Ventnor showed no signs of letting the visitors trouble the score sheet again and some good work from Ed Blake and Tony Jacobson kept them at bay. With the game effectively won, the bench of Callum Martin, Gav Davis and Sean Frampton and Dan Muir were unleashed and Parker returned for Stemmet.
The last try of the game was fittingly scored by Man of the Match Bulpitt after a break from Jack Davis with Skelley in support to feed the back-rower to power over. With both captains deciding that enough was enough, there was no conversion to leave the final score 45-7 in Ventnor’s favour.
In the end a convincing margin but, in similar vein to the previous week, it took Ventnor a while to play to their strengths and move the ball quickly away from contact and use their pace and fitness. An all-round pleasing weekend for Ventnor with both teams still at the top of their respective leagues.
Final score 47-7
Image: Clive Cardwell-Hill
Ventnor Rugby Club 2XV Team, 18 October 2025:
Parker, Brown, Skelley, I.Reeves, Castle, Collett, Bulpitt, D. Magnurson (capt), Bridges, W.Riches, Wood, Fairman, Mumford, Jacobson, E.Blake. Subs: Stemmet, S.Frampton, Martin, J.Davis, G.Davis, Muir, Starkey.
The A J Wells Man of the Man – Alec Bulpitt
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Dean Magnurson
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Alison Roberts
Coach: Clive Cardwell-Hill
Medic: Claire Mumford
Match report by Clive Cardwell-Hill
Best Regards
James
JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317
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