Match Review of Home Derby versus Isle of Wight RFC March 2026

Match review of home derby versus Isle of Wight RFC – ‘What a day’

Counties 3 Hampshire, Saturday 28 March 2026

A quick reflection on a great day at Watcombe on Saturday which started with a full-house attendance at the Vice Presidents’ lunch with Wally Peters and Stu Brading as our guests from the Isle of Wight RFC.

Many thanks to Dave Martin for an excellent speech which looked back over the years of these derby fixtures and set the tone perfectly for the game.

Many thanks to Sally Cooper of The Bistro at London House in Ventnor for the delicious food and to Bradders, Molly and Roly for their work behind the bar plus Clive, Carrie and Nancy for manning the kitchen to such great effect. I even saw George Finan washing up at one point!

The game itself was a cracker with massive commitment from both sides – perhaps over-commitment from Wootton at times which resulted in their three yellow cards for dangerous tackles.

By contrast, our yellow card was simply because Harvey celebrated his try too enthusiastically (a first in my experience!).

We took an early lead with two tries from Tom Branagh plus another from Dan Lythgoe. They then got two tries to bring it back to 20 – 10 at halftime. They then got another so it all looked a bit hairy until Harvey got his try (and resultant yellow!) before Alec Bulpitt lit up the day with a interception and run in from his own twenty-two which had the crowd in raptures. Final score 30 – 17.

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

“We came out flying and built a 17–0 lead playing exactly how we want to — high tempo, moving the ball, and putting them under pressure. That’s Ventnor at its best.

Credit to Wootton [Isle of Wight RFC], they fought their way back into it which tested us.

That’s the big growth for me today — earlier in the season maybe we would have panicked there, but the boys stayed composed, stuck to the plan, and then pulled away again.

To finish strongly and take control of the game again says a lot about this group. Really proud of the lads — another step forward”.

Damien Marriott, Coaching Consultant

Ventnor RFC 1XV Team, 28 March 2026

Ventnor RFC 1XV Team:  D.Lythgoe, Jones, Rushton, L.Morton (capt), Hayman, Broomfield, Coghlan, H.Wheeler, Ford, Butler, E.Blake, Branagh, M.Wheeler, Bulpitt, Crews. Subs: Bexon-Stone, Scadden and Souter

The A J Wells Man of the Man – Will Broomfield
The Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Harvey Wheeler
The Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Olly Fulljames and Dominic Marsh

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

With Ellingham and Ringwood RFC giving Tottonians RFC a walk-over, the latter also got five points and still trail Ventnor RFC 1XV by ten points in the league. They have two games to go. We have one – against away to Aldershot and Fleet on 11th April.

Aldershot and Fleet RFC started the season slowly but are starting to show some form so it’ll be a tough assignment.

We just need ONE point but the coaches and lads will be looking for the win.

The result on Saturday also means that the 1st XV are unbeaten at home this season which is a fabulous achievement.

Also in our 15 games we have only conceded 193 points – an average of less than 13 points per game which is pretty impressive and far below anyone else in the league.

Ventnor RFC Sponsors 28 March 2026

As ever we must thank our match sponsors for Saturday, namely:

Jennifer Hinton & Terry O’Brian, Warren Fresle, Traditional Brick and Stone, TF Solutions, Steve Champion, Steve Macey, Tom Wells, Stuart Babington, A Repoint, Imogen’s Dog Grooming, TJW Carpentry and Unique Aerospace.

Read the match report Ventnor Rugby Club 1XV 30-17 Isle of Wight Rugby Club 28 March 2026

Ventnor Rugby Club Dinner Dance and Awards 2025-26 Evening Tickets Now Available

A reminder that the Ventnor Rugby Club Dinner Dance and Awards 2025-26 Evening Tickets Now Available for the evening of Saturday 13th June 2026 at The Ryde Castle Hotel, Esplanade, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 1JA – view on Google Maps

from 4pm, for sit-down at 5.20pm

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

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)

Spaces are limited so a reminder to get your tickets now.

We have our annual youth rugby festival coming our way on Sunday 26th April 2026.

This is a big advertisement for the club as well as being a bit of a money-spinner, so we are looking for volunteers to assist on the day which will run from about 08:00 til 14:30. Let me know if you can help.

Best Regards

James

JAMES MORTON
Chairman Ventnor RFC
T: 07901 938 317