A big thank you to Nathaniel Wheatley for this cheeky little video of Saturdays game. You are most welcome back at the club any time and I am sure from the reaction that it has got you will not be short of a drink or two! Match day...
Read MoreVentnor RFC 1st XV 42-8 Southampton RFC 1st XV Continuing their good start to the league this season, Ventnor gained another win at home this week against a strong Southampton side. Unlike the previous two games in which Ventnor started on the back foot and conceding early on, they took to the pitch ready to start from the off and took the game to visiting side. Out to show they mean business this season Ventnor started the scoring with Danny Newbury after Damien Marriott’s left boot keeping Southampton in their own half yet again Ventnor won their lineout and drove up the field that ended with Newbury over the try line right from the touchline. Marriott’s kicking was effortless and unwavering throughout the game converting all of the six trys scored. Marriott was running the game from the number 10 position and with clearances from his own half saw Ventnor in the attacking third of the pitch allowing Tom Englegardt to score after hammering runs from the home side. After some retaliation from Southampton and occupying the home sides half for long periods of time, Ventnor still managed to use their strength in the forwards to gain ground and defend well as a team. This then lead to more trys, the first from James Morley crashing through the Southampton’s defensive line to touch down. The second came from Ventnor’s...
Read MoreVentnor RFC enjoyed a 40th birthday last Saturday since being reformed in 1974. Guests, Trustees and Vice Presidents of all ages come together once again to hear speakers and toast the success of the Club. The celebration was led by John Metcalfe, John Whitehouse and Stuart Babington. Adam Pratt was Master of Ceremonies. The Ladies provided the meal. Speakers reflected in fun on past results both good and not so good, the lost agility and the memorable Club’s characters. Topping the day was the presentation of the new kit to today’s playing Captain Todd Riches by Trustee and Vice President Stephen Champion. A generation on and the father/son succession continues through the likes of John & Fergus Kenny, Bob & Neil Turner, Pete & Arron+Damion Marriot, Adam & Adam Pratt, Bob and Tom Engelgardt, Alan and Warren Fresle, Stuart and Jake Babington, Brennan and Arron Fradgley. Ventnor RFC 1st XV 26-59 Millbrook RFC 1st XV After last week’s big win over Wotton Millbrook travelled to the island expecting an easy game but that was not the case. Ventnor gave their all in this cup game which marked the 40th anniversary of their first home game. The home side started off the same as last week needing a kick start to get them going and conceded two try’s early on. Ventnor then came back strong and evened the score with...
Read MoreHampshire Division 2 Fawley RFC 31-38 Ventnor RFC 1st XV Ventnor 1st team travelled to Fawley this week for a game that was always going to be physical from start to finish, and came out on top with their heads held high. With a few absences from the team fielded last week and players in positions they wouldn’t usually find themselves in Ventnor still managed to get a great victory over Fawley. The game didn’t start off as well as Ventnor had hoped, with Fawley chipping the ball early on over the back line and with a lucky bounce the winger found the ball in his hands to touch it down over the try line. The same would happen in almost an instant replay of the previous try minutes later to take the home side 14 points into the lead. This seem to give Ventnor the wake up they needed and went straight back at the homes side with strong attacking play. Again as in the previous week Ventnor’s forwards were dominant in every part of their game winning near on every scrum and line out whether it was theirs or not. The first Ventnor try would come from James Pemberton after some excellent work from the forwards driving them up the pitch, the ball then came out to the backs for Pemberton to break through the line and...
Read MoreHampshire Division 2 Ventnor RFC 1st XV 31-0 Kingsclere Ventnor started their season off with a win at Watcombe Bottom this weekend. With new 1st team captain Todd Riches, Ventnor were fired up for their opening game of the season against Kingsclere a team that has moved to Hampshire 2 from the Kent league last year and had come over with their passports and in good spirit of the game. Ventnor showed off their strength in the forwards by dominating their own and turning over the oppositions as well. With great work by the forwards to drive Ventnor up the pitch it wasn’t long before the first try of the game. After a ruck the ball was passed to the backs and found Jake Babington on the wing to score the opening try of the season. Damien Marriott converted the try to take it to 7-0 within the first 10minutes. Ventnor continued to show their dominance in the forwards with strong runs from Todd Riches, Tobias Penner and James Morley all making hard yards. This would again lead to another try this time for Marriott to score but unable to convert this time. Kingsclere then kept the home side at bay for the remainder of the half but were unable to put any points on the board with excellent defence and tackling from the likes of Neil Turner, Fergus...
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