Match Report Christchurch RFC 38-22 Ventnor RFC 2XV 18 April 2026

Match Report Christchurch Rugby Football Club 38-22 Ventnor Rugby Football Club 2XV 18 April 2026

Saturday 18th April 2026

Result: Christchurch 38 – 22 Ventnor

Ventnor second team’s last game of the season saw the team travel away to Christchurch RFC and the final score does not do justice to the team as they saved their best rugby of the season for the last game!

It took 20 minutes for the visitors to wake up (is there such a thing as ferry-lag?) by which time the home team had run in 3 tries, leaving Ventnor’s coaches thinking that this was going to be a long game to endure!

Ventnor switched off for the first try after the home side took a quick line-out throw following a Ventnor penalty kick to touch and the resultant quick ball gave them space to cross the line. After a Ventnor penalty kick, this SHOULD have been a Ventnor throw in, but the try was allowed to stand despite some enquiries from captain Warren Riches.

Following this, some lack-lustre tackling gave the Christchurch backline, who looked threatening with ball in hand, all the opportunity they needed to run in a couple more quick tries.

However, the tide began to turn with the front row of Iain Reeves, Henrik Brown and James Blake providing a good platform and locks Ewan Castle and Will Broomfield providing the power in the engine room of the scrum.

This enabled the half backs Max Henley and Beau Bridgeman plenty of time and space to set loose the Ventnor backs with centre Harvey Wheeler – reveling in his new position – and debutant John Waghorn outside him to run at the opposition. Ventnor then made a tactical substitution with winger Adam Wade making way for debutant Aaron Robinson.

Some quick ball from a Ventnor scrum put Wheeler into space and a couple of sidesteps later he crossed for a try. This was quickly followed by a second Ventnor try, this time Broomfield barreled his way over to reduce the deficit to 21-10.

The home side then extended their lead, again after some tired tackling, before Broomfield claimed his second try from close range and the resultant conversion from Riches meant the visitors turned around 26-17 down with a come-back very much on.

Ventnor were forced to make some changes when Castle twisted a knee, to be replaced in the second row by Aaron Robinson with Wade returning on the wing. Blake then took a deserved rest to allow Riley Lloyd to enter the fray in the front row. This did nothing to weaken the Ventnor set piece and while the line out was not going smoothly the scrum was effective for the whole game.

The controlling influence of Dean Magnurrson at no.8 with flankers Pat Banks and Ben Westbrook (another debutant) tireless in their work all afternoon, was beginning to disrupt the home side and their indiscipline began to show.

This continued for the rest of the game and the more rugby that Ventnor played the less the Christchurch team (and touchline support) seemed to like it and the penalty count against the home side started to rise.

Ventnor spent the last 20 minutes of the game playing some of their best rugby with the forwards providing good ball for the backs to exploit the gaps in the home side defence and, but for the lack of the final pass or a knock-on, two or three try-scoring opportunities were missed. Christchurch managed to cross the line after a close range attack before Banks replied for Ventnor with a well-deserved try following more pressure in mid-field.

Winger Ollie Wood was unlucky not to get a favourable bounce after his kick and chase from the wing and from a period of sustained pressure the Christchurch fullback received a yellow card for a high tackle. With only a couple of minutes left on the clock Ventnor were unable to add to their tally and the score remained at 38-22.

Despite the losing scoreline there is an awful lot of good to be taken from this game. The forward platform, coupled with the half backs working well together, produced plenty of ball for the back line to utilise and play the expansive type of rugby that has become a Ventnor trade-mark this season.

The more this team can play together (and, more importantly, train together) the better they will get, especially with Colts Westbrook, Waghorn and Robinson coming up through the ranks to play senior rugby.

The future is blue and white!!

Image: James Morton

Ventnor RFC 2XV Team, 18 April 2026

Team:  I.Reeves, Brown, J.Blake, Castle, Broomfield, Banks, Westbrook, D.Magnurson, Henley, Bridgeman, Wood, H.Wheeler, Waghorn, Wade, W.Riches (capt).  Subs: Lloyd, Robinson

Ventnor Rugby Club Player Membership

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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 – Ben Westbrook
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Olly Wood
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Gavin Ford

Match Report by Clive Cardwell-Hill

Next game:   2^nd May. Ventnor travel to Old Glynonians RFC for the quarter final of the Community Plate

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