Match report Ventnor RFC 1XV 57-21 Portsmouth RFC 2XV 21 March 2026

Match report Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV 57-21 Portsmouth Rugby Club 2XV 21 March 2026

Counties 3 Hampshire

Ventnor secured promotion to Hampshire Counties two with this excellent win against a highly competitive Portsmouth team who never gave up despite the claustrophobic

Ventnor defence on which this win was based. The visitors had plenty of possession in the first half but could make no progress at all against a solid wall of defenders who cut them down at source and stifled any attacks so that the kick became their solitary option only to find that Alec Bulpitt, Ed Blake and Tom Crews were more than happy to launch attacks with the ball in hand.

Additionally, Harry Bexon-Stone, Jewy Jones and Jack Rushton had their work cut out holding a much heavier pack at scrumtime but they somehow managed to make it through the game without losing a set piece.

Early in the game Crews secured possession from which Josh Ford propelled a perfect fifty-twenty two. Jewy Jones and Cody Hayman combined in the lineout and Harvey Wheeler blasted through two defenders to touch down between the posts for a try that Ford Converted. 7 – 0.

Then, from a defensive lineout, Ford made a blindside break, Luke Butler kicked ahead, Ed Blake gathered and passed inside for Tom Branagh to despatch the last defender before diving between the posts. Again Ford converted. 14 – 0. Branagh was in again when Ventnor’s defensive pressure caused a fumble in the Portsmouth back line and the powerful Ventnor centre swooped on the ball to score wide out. 19 – 0.

The hard running of Will Broomfield and Harvey Wheeler was creating havoc in the Portsmouth line and a tap penalty saw Jones and Blake combine to allow Ford to jink over for Ventnor’s all-important bonus point try. Ford himself converted. 26 – 0. Portsmouth then got one back when Ventnor lost concentration at a tap penalty and allowed a soft try. 26 – 7.

Ventnor immediately struck back when a Crews kick-ahead was chased down by Bulpitt who not only tackled the defender but turned over the ball for Harvey Wheeler to score his second of the match. 31 – 7.

The half ended with a penalty try to Portsmouth when a lineout maul was adjudged to have been pulled down and Butler found himself in the sin-bin.

Half Time Score 31 – 14.

The second half started with the best try of the match when Crews and Bulpitt chased a Blake kick-ahead and Ford fed Max Wheeler. The ball was swept down the line – through Lewy Morton, Bexon-Stone, and Broomfield – for Jason Coltham to score in the corner. 36 – 14. Ben Souter replaced Branagh and Joe Coghlan came on at scrumhalf so that Ford could move to flyhalf. Riley Lloyd came into the front row and immediately forced a heel against the head. A period of Portsmouth pressure was relieved by a second fifty-twenty two kick from Ford.

Morton took the lineout catch and Broomfield crashed though attempted tackles to touch down. Ford converted. 43 – 14. From the subsequent kick-off, the large crowd at Watcombe were rewarded by the spectacle of Jewy Jones sprinting almost the full length of the pitch only for the ball to go astray just metres from the try line. Ventnor kept up the pressure and Ford and Broomfield went close before Hayman powered over from the side of a ruck. Ford converted. 50 – 14.

Straight from the kick off, Ventnor were back on the front foot with Ford making a break before feeding to Blake whose pace and balance saw him sweep through a struggling defence for a well-deserved score. Again Ford converted. 57 – 14. Portsmouth had the last word with a number of lineout mauls that eventually led to a converted try as the final whistle blew. Final score 57 – 21

After the game, head coach Damien Marriott had this to say.

“I’m massively proud of the lads today. We got the result by playing the kind of rugby we’ve wanted to build all season — fast, brave, and accurate. Our tempo caused them real problems and once we got into the game, they really struggled to live with us.

We moved the ball well, played with intent, and the boys fully backed the game plan. What pleased me most was that we also matched a much more physical pack and found a way to impose ourselves on the game.

We knew that would be a huge challenge coming in, but the lads stood up to it brilliantly. I want to congratulate every single player on securing promotion. We set that goal right back in the summer and the lads have been outstanding all season.

Their attitude, commitment, and willingness to keep improving week after week has been first class, and they thoroughly deserve this moment.

This is a special achievement for the group, but it’s one they’ve earned. I’m delighted for them”.

Damien Marriott, Coaching Consultant

Image: James Morton

Ventnor RFC 1XV Team, 21 March 2026

Team:  Bexon-Stone, Jones, Rushton, Coltham, Hayman, L.Morton (capt), Broomfield, H.Wheeler, Ford, Butler, E.Blake, Branagh, M.Wheeler, Bulpitt, Crews. Subs: Lloyd, Coghlan, Souter

The A J Wells Man of the Man – Cody Hayman
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Jewy Jones and Max Wheeler
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Gary Freeston and Graham Simler

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

Match Report by James Morton

Ventnor Rugby Club Player Membership

Ventnor Rugby Club Player Membership is just £16 per month, with a range of benefits including exclusive use for players of the Ventnor Rugby Club Gym at Watcombe Bottom – sign-up to become a Ventnor Rugby Club Player

image courtesy: Ⓒ 2026: Andrew Cooper Sport Photography | Moral Rights Asserted | All Rights Reserved

Ventnor RFC Match Sponsors 21 March 2026

Ventnor RFC would like to thank their match sponsors for the day, namely:

The Isle of Wight Coffee Co, John Liddelow Financial Services, The Fradgley family, Lake Laundry Services Ltd, Lesley Hall, Nettlecombe Farm, No 64, Ryde, No 7 & Niton Post Office, Norris Family Grocers, Oven Wizards and Reynolds & Read Ltd.

Next Saturday (28th March) is the big one as Ventnor 1sts take on the Isle of Wight at Watcombe.

The game is preceded by a Vice President’s’ Lunch. 28th March 2026

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

Ventnor RFC 1XV have just 2 league remaining fixtures for the Counties 3 Hampshire 2025-26 season:

March 2026

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

Best Regards

James

JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317