Match report Isle of Wight Rugby Club 15-5 Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV
Counties 3 Hampshire League 2025-56, Saturday 20 December 2025
Ventnor’s unbeaten run in Hampshire Counties Three league came to a shuddering stop with this defeat at Wootton where the Isle of Wight put their season back on track with a hard fought and well-deserved victory built on rugged defence and some astute dominance of territory.
Ventnor started strongly with Luke Butler finding the corners and some impressive kick chase by Tom Scadden resulted in a hurried clearance from Dan Ward which was charged down by Lewy Morton. Both were hurt in the collision and Ward had to leave the field with a knee injury.
Ventnor’s set piece was its usual reliable self with Dan Lythgoe, Jewy Jones and Jack Rushton performing well in the front row whilst Morton and Joe Coghlan were excellent in the lineout.
However, the month without rugby was beginning to tell and once the ball was in open play, things looked less cohesive due to the pressure of the Isle of Wight defence which was remorseless throughout.
Ventnor were beginning to get some more go-forward when Coghlan was yellow carded for an illegal clear-out and the Isle of Wight were able to put pressure on the visitor’s line which resulted in an unconverted try after a tap penalty.
Ventnor responded immediately with a Cody Hayman catch at a lineout followed by incursions from Jones, the Wheeler brothers and Butler resulting in quick ruck ball that allowed Josh Ford, Morton and Scadden to put Hayden Lythgoe in at the corner. Ford’s attempted conversion drifted just wide.
Therefore at halftime the score was 5 – 5.
Jack Gilbey replaced Hayman who was suffering from a hand injury as the second half kicked off but the game was swinging the way of the Isle of Wight despite some excellent runs from Jones, Jason Coltham and Harvey Wheeler.
The hosts almost scored in the corner before pounding the Ventnor line with pick-and-goes after Ventnor had tried to run it out of their own twenty-two and got turned over.
It looked like the ball had been held up over the line but the referee allowed the game to continue and a converted try was scored. 12 – 5. The pressure on Ventnor continued and Ben Souter did well to chase back and secure the ball after an excellent kick ahead.
Ventnor had never got their backline into the game but Max Wheeler and Branagh made a break which Scadden carried on but couldn’t find Hayden Lythgoe when a two-on-one looked on the cards.
Will Broomfield and George Collett joined the fray and the latter was just held up over the line but Ventnor still couldn’t get onto the front foot and a penalty to the Isle of Wight sealed their fate with a final score of 15 – 5.
Final score 15-5
There is no doubt that the Isle of Wight fully deserved their victory and Ventnor will now have to regroup before their next game at home to Ellingham and Ringwood RFC on 10th January 2025.
Ventnor 1st XV remain at top of Counties 3 Hampshire league 2025-26 league table (as at 20/12/2025), with 30 points, moving into the second half of the season.
They still leads the league but the lead has been cut to two points above Tottonians RFC 2XV, to whom they travel on 17th January 2025.
Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV Team, 20 December 2025:
Team: Rushton, Jones, D.Lythgoe, L.Morton (capt), Coltham, Hayman, Coghlan, H.Wheeler, Ford, Butler, Scadden, Souter, M.Wheeler, Branagh, H.Lythgoe, Scadden. Subs: Broomfield, Collett, Gilbey,
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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 – Jason Coltham
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Joe Coglan
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Nolan Winter
Coaches: Damien Marriott, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches and Andy Teague
Physio: Sarah Watt
Match report: James Morton
Best Regards
James
JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317
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