Match report Aldershot and Fleet RFC 0-12 Ventnor RFC 1XV 11 April 2026

Match report Aldershot and Fleet Rugby Club 0-12 Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV

Counties 3 Hampshire 2025-26, Saturday 11 April 2026

Ventnor needed just one point to secure the Hampshire Counties Three title but an excellent Aldershot and Fleet RFC side made matters very difficult as their respective defences dominated attackers throughout the game. Ventnor played into a brisk and gusty wind in the first half which impeded their open style of rugby.

In addition, any direct play – with Dan Lythgoe, Cody Hayman and Harvey Wheeler to the fore – was met with steely defence and a referee who didn’t give either side an inch of leeway once on the floor. Josh Ford and Luke Butler were able to get their powerful centres into some space but neither Tom Branagh nor Max Wheeler were able to get much further than the gain-line.

With the wind at their back, Aldershot and Fleet took to the boot but Ben Souter, Ed Blake and Alec Bulpitt showed tremendous calm under the barrage and were able put Ventnor back on the front foot.
One major point of difference between the team was the line-out where Jewy Jones – celebrating a remarkable 200th 1st XV game for Ventnor – showed his mastery with the throw-ins so that Lewy Morton and Joe Coghlan, in particular, were able to take clean ball and keep the opposition pinned down in their own half.

In addition, at Aldershot and Fleet’s line-outs, Jason Coltham and Morton were able to disrupt so much of their ball that they resorted to short throw-ins to the front and found no change given by Jack Rushton and Jones. Ventnor have definitely benefited from some specialised lineout training sessions with Harrison Booth – a point borne out by a perfect catcher sack by Hayman.

Aldershot and Fleet lost a man to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Branagh but, despite two excellent breaks by Max Wheeler and Blake, Ventnor were unable to take advantage so the halftime score remained 0 – 0.

With the wind at their backs, Ventnor were able to step up their game and Butler and Ford both used the boot to good effect. Morton and Branagh made some storming runs and Jones carried all before him on a twenty metre burst.

Eventually the pressure began to tell and Ford was able to open the scoring with a penalty. Harry Bexon-Stone and Riley Lloyd came on in the front row and began to dominate a tiring opposition pack allowing Ford to kick his second penalty but A&R came back and camped on the Islanders’ line for a spell and it took some serious defence and a game-changing turnover by Bulpitt to stem the tide.

Tom Scadden was now on and the renewed energy in the backs saw Ventnor move up-field resulting in Ford converting his third penalty to take the score to 0 – 9.

At last the vocal travelling support could begin to relax since Aldershot and Fleet never looked like breaking through thereafter and Ford clinched the deal with a fourth penalty to leave the final score at 0 – 12.

After the match, head coach Damien Marriott had this to say:

“We’re really pleased with that. It was a tough game in very difficult conditions, and I thought our defence, especially in the first half, was outstanding.

We had to absorb a lot of pressure at times, but the lads stayed connected, worked hard for each other, and showed real resilience to keep a clean sheet. In the second half, our game management was exactly what was needed.

We played the conditions well, made good decisions, and controlled the game in the right areas of the pitch.

Most importantly, congratulations to all the lads on becoming league champions. It’s a brilliant achievement and thoroughly deserved for the effort they’ve put in all season”.

Damien Marriott

Image: James Morton

Ventnor RFC 1XV Team, 11 April 2026

Team:  Rushton, Jones, D.Lythgoe, Coltham, Hayman, Coghlan, L.Morton (capt), H.Wheeler, Ford, Butler, E.Blake, Branagh, M.Wheeler, Bulpitt, Souter. Subs: Bexon-Stone, Lloyd, Scadden. Travelling reserve Jack 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 – Harvey Wheeler
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Jewy Jones on his 200^th VRFC match
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: The Reverand Warren Riches and Regan Newbury

Coach: Damien Marriott, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Andy Teague, Todd Riches

Physio: Sarah Watt

Match Report by James Morton

Next games:

Saturday 18th April – Ventnor 2nds away to Christchurch RFC
Sunday 19th April. Tristan Price (Beast) Memorial Game (A Ventnor XV v an Executive Command XV) and family fun day at Watcombe. All welcome. Bouncy Castle, Bar and BBQ – all in a good cause.

Don’t forget the Ventnor Rugby Club Dinner Dance and Awards Night on 13th June 2026. You need to get going if want a ticket!

Tickets: £40 per person. Dress code: black tie

Venue: The Ryde Castle Hotel, Esplanade, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 1JA – view on Google Maps

from 4pm, for sit-down at 5.20pm

Spaces are limited so get your tickets today.

Deadline for purchase of tickets: Sunday 23rd May 2026

Tickets are on sale until 23:59 on Sunday 23rd May 2026 inclusive or until sold out (whichever is sooner)

Best Regards

James

JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317