Match report Ventnor RFC 1XV 24-20 Alton RFC 28 February 2026

Match report Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV 24-20 Alton Rugby Club Saturday 28 February 2026

Counties 3 Hampshire, Saturday 28 February 2026

Ventnor kept their league championship ambitions alive with a last-minute win against an excellent Alton side who are in the midst a run of good form.

It was Alton who were first to put points on the board with a penalty after a high tackle in midfield. Ventnor went straight back onto the attack with Josh Ford and Luke Butler running the show and only last-pass errors stopped Ben Souter going in at the corner. Ventnor’s set piece gave them the edge with Dan Lythgoe, Jewy Jones and Jack Rushton once more to the fore and it was a scrum penalty followed by a textbook lineout catch by Cody Hayman which led to a maul from which Ford was able to dart over and touch down. 5 – 3.

Both teams were beginning to struggle with some of the referee’s interpretations and there was a spell which stopped and started as the game began to lose its rhythm. Ventnor still looked like they had the edge and a beautiful three-quarter move almost put Archie Lucy in the clear. However the home team lost the influential Tom Branagh for ten minutes after he was penalised for a high tackle and Alton took full advantage to score two quick-fire tries to take the score to 5 – 17.

With a strong wind at their backs, the visitors were able to kick for territory and it looked ominous for Ventnor and it took a bit of Josh Ford magic to get them back in the game when the scrumhalf took the blindside route round a powerful lineout maul to sprint under the posts for his second try which he duly converted. 12 – 17 at half-time.

Ventnor rang the changes and Will Broomfield went on for Hayman who had had a storming half whilst Lythgoe came off as Rushton (who had been replaced by Harry Bexon-Stone mid-half) returned. Broomfield was immediately in the action with a strong carry which gave space for Max Wheeler to tear up the left only to be stopped just short of the line.

Ventnor were now taking a more direct route and Harvey Wheeler, Jacob Jordan and Broomfield all made progress through Alton’s defence but the final pass was still going astray and frustration was beginning to set in.

This element was not helped by the referee’s ponderous style which meant the game never gathered the momentum on which Ventnor’s game thrives.

And finally, the pernicious wind, that had been so strong in the Islanders’ faces in the first half, had now dropped to a gentle breeze!

Butler and an Alton player were then yellow carded after a flare up so that Souter took over at scrumhalf and Ford moved to flyhalf. For the first time in the half, Alton then began to put on some pressure and a successful penalty took them out to 12 – 20 with just ten minutes to go.

Ventnor rolled up their sleeves for one final effort and Gilbey – on for Lucy – made progress up the right. The ball was recycled and Jordan and Broomfield drove up the middle before Souter and Ford combined to put Jason Coltham in some space on the left.

The tall second-row held the defence before passing to Alec Bulpitt who somehow fought his way over for the try. 17 – 20. It was all Ventnor now and Harvey Wheeler swerved through contact and set Coltham up for a charge. Then Ford made ground and a magical pick up from Jordan gave Hayman time to set up a ruck at which Alton were penalised.

A successful lineout gave Branagh space to pound forward before another penalty to Ventnor allowed Ford to kick to touch just short of Alton’s line. Lewy Morton – who had tackled ferociously all game – took the ball and fought his way forward. Another penalty. Another lineout.

Again Morton secured the ball and a brief maul was formed before Rushton peeled off the back and hammered over for the winning try (his sixth of the season – a number that will surely disqualify him from the front row union!).

As Ford’s conversion sailed through the post, the final whistle went and Ventnor had secured the five points that keeps the league title alive.

The final score 24 – 20

Head coach Damien Marriott had this to say after the match:

“It was a really tough game and credit to Alton for taking their chances when they got into our twenty-two. From our side there were plenty of positives.

The lads worked incredibly hard defensively and physically we matched them across the park.

Our set piece in particular was strong, with the scrum providing a really solid platform. We created lots of opportunities and spent plenty of time in the right areas of the field, but the difference on the day was being clinical when those chances came.

That’s something we’ll keep working on to improve”.

Damien Marriott, Head Coach

Image: James Morton

Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV Team, 28 February 2026:  

Team:

Rushton, Jones, D.Lythgoe, L.Morton (capt), Coltham, Hayman, Jordan, H.Wheeler, Ford, Butler, Bulpitt, Branagh, M.Wheeler, Lucy, Souter. Subs: Bexon-Stone, Broomfield and 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 – Jack Rushton
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Alec Bulpitt
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Anton Lavers

Coaches: Damien Marriott, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches and Andy Teague
Physio: Sarah Watt

Match report: James Morton

Ventnor RFC 1XV Extend their lead in the Counties 3 Hampshire League 2025-26 Table

The win means Ventnor RFC 1XV extend their lead in the Counties 3 Hampshire League 2025-26 Table to 9 points, with Ventnor 1XV remaining top of the Counties 3 Hampshire league 2025-26 league table:

However, Ventnor 1XV have a game in hand over Isle of Wight RFC who are 2nd in the Counties 3 Hampshire league 2025-26 league table, as well as Portsmouth RFC 2XV (who have moved up to 3rd).

Ventnor RFC 1XV – played 12, won 8, drawn 1, lost 3, points 45

Isle of Wight RFC 2XV – played 13, won 6, drawn 0, lost 7. points 36

Portsmouth RFC 2XV – played 13, won 8, drawn 0, lost 5, points 35

Next week Ventnor RFC 1XV are at home to Overton RFC, whilst 2XV have a week off (their current next scheduled fixture is away to Christchurch RFC on 21 march 2026)

Ventnor RFC 1XV Remaining Counties 3 Hampshire League Fixtures 2025-26

Ventnor RFC 1XV have just 4 league remaining fixtures for the Counties 3 Hampshire 2025-26 season, after yesterday’s home fixture to Alton RFC

March 2026
Saturday 07 Mar 2026 Counties 3 Hampshire Ventnor RFC 1XV v Overton RFC

Saturday 21 Mar 2026 Counties 3 Hampshire Ventnor RFC v Portsmouth RFC 2XV

Saturday 28 Mar 2026 Counties 3 Hampshire Ventnor RFC 1XV v Isle Of Wight RFC – Vice Presidents’ Lunch

April 2026
Saturday 11 Apr 2026 Counties 3 Hampshire Aldershot & Fleet RFC v Ventnor RFC

plus their Hampshire Counties 3 and Below Plate 2025-26 Quarter Final fixture:

May 2026

Saturday 2 May 2026 Hampshire Counties 3 and Below Plate 2025-26 Quarter Final

Old Glynonians RFC v Ventnor RFC Community South Cup Plate 2025-26 Quarter Finals

Match Sponsors Saturday 28 February 2026

As ever, we must thank Ventnor Rugby Club’s match sponsors for yesterday’s game, namely:

CP Bathrooms, Cridmore Farm, Dan Noyes Sports Massage Therapy, Dorothy Muncaster, Electrical Solution IOW Ltd, Flowers for You, Gamson Gray Design and Media, Groundsell Contracting Ltd, Hose, Rhodes and Dickson, Howdens of Sandown, Inspiration Fabrication and Island Crane Hire.

Next Saturday (7^th Feb) Ventnor 1XV host Overton in Counties Three Hampshire league.

Best Regards

James

JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317

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