Ventnor 1st XV struck with the final play to beat Alton 24-20 and keep their Hampshire Counties Three title hopes alive, while the 2nds saw their fixture abandoned on Saturday (28th February).
LATE DRAMA AT WATCOMBE BOTTOM KEEPS VENTNOR TITLE HOPES ALIVE
Ventnor maintained their championship push with a stirring last-minute victory over an in-form Alton side in a match packed with momentum swings, yellow cards and high drama.
Alton opened the scoring with a penalty following a high tackle in midfield, but Ventnor responded immediately. Josh Ford and Luke Butler directed play intelligently, and only a last-pass error denied Ben Souter an early corner finish.
The Islanders’ set piece once again proved decisive. Dan Lythgoe, Jewy Jones and Jack Rushton laid a solid platform, and after a scrum penalty and textbook Cody Hayman lineout take, Ford peeled off a driving maul to score. 5-3.
The contest became fractious, with repeated stoppages disrupting rhythm. Ventnor looked marginally in control until Tom Branagh was shown yellow for a high tackle. Alton capitalised ruthlessly, running in 2 quick tries with the wind at their backs to surge 5-17 ahead.
With the game threatening to slip away, Ford produced a moment of brilliance, darting blind from a powerful maul to sprint under the posts for his second try, which he converted himself.
Half-time: Ventnor 12-17 Alton.
Ventnor reshuffled at the break. Will Broomfield entered the fray and made an immediate impact, while Max Wheeler was denied just short after a powerful surge down the left. Harvey Wheeler, Jacob Jordan and Broomfield all punched holes through Alton’s defence, but execution at the final moment continued to frustrate.
A flare-up led to yellow cards for Butler and an Alton player, forcing Ford to switch to fly-half and Souter to scrum-half. Alton then edged further clear with a penalty to make it 12-20 with ten minutes remaining.
What followed was a display of grit befitting title contenders.
Gilbey made ground on the right before sustained pressure saw Jason Coltham release Alec Bulpitt, who somehow wrestled his way over in the corner. 17-20.
Ventnor sensed opportunity. Harvey Wheeler weaved through contact, Coltham charged again and Jordan produced a superb pick-up under pressure. After successive penalties and lineouts close to the Alton line, Lewy Morton – ferocious in defence all afternoon – drove forward repeatedly.
From yet another lineout, Morton secured possession and a maul formed. Rushton peeled off the back and powered over for the decisive try – his sixth of the season – before Ford added the conversion as the final whistle sounded.
Full-time: Ventnor 24-20 Alton.
After the game, head coach Damien Marriott said:
“It was a really tough game and credit to Alton for taking their chances when they got into our twenty-two. From our side there were plenty of positives. The lads worked incredibly hard defensively and physically we matched them across the park. Our set piece in particular was strong, with the scrum providing a really solid platform.
“We created lots of opportunities and spent plenty of time in the right areas of the field, but the difference on the day was being clinical when those chances came. That’s something we’ll keep working on to improve.”
The victory secures 5 valuable league points and keeps Ventnor firmly in the title hunt.
Ventnor: Rushton, Jones, D Lythgoe, L Morton (capt), Coltham, Hayman, Jordan, H Wheeler, Ford, Butler, Bulpitt, Branagh, M Wheeler, Lucy, Souter.
Subs: Bexon-Stone, Broomfield, Gilbey Coaches: Damien Marriott, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches and Andy Teague. Physio: Sarah Watt.
A.J. Wells Man of the Match: Jack Rushton.
Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Alec Bulpitt.
Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Anton Lavers.
2NDS MATCH ABANDONED AFTER INJURY WITH SCORES LEVEL
The 2nds’ fixture was curtailed following an injury to a United Services Portsmouth player, with the game later declared null and void.
USP arrived without a hooker, forcing uncontested scrums from the outset – much to the frustration of Ventnor’s front five.
The visitors struck early with a maul try to lead 0-5, but Ventnor responded immediately. Grant Richardson forced a turnover from the restart and slick handling through Ross Harris and Beau Bridgeman created space for Ed Blake to power over. Warren Riches’ conversion attempt clipped the post.
At 5-5, Ventnor were dominant. Charlie Magnurson, Iain Reeves and Richardson drove relentlessly, while Bridgeman, Harry Ottley and Nathan Frampton tackled ferociously. Luke Starkey and Henrik Brown were central to a rapid series of pick-and-gos that had USP pinned back.
Unfortunately, a serious-looking collision prompted the referee to halt proceedings pending medical attention. The injured USP player was later released from hospital that evening.
The match will now be replayed on 14th March.
Ventnor: I Reeves, Brown, Richardson, Castle, N Frampton, Starkey, D Magnurson (capt), C Magnurson, Harris, Bridgeman, Wade, E Blake, H Ottley, Jacobson, W Riches. Subs: Ball, Tombleson, J Blake, Wood, Muir, Fox, Francis. Coaches: Damien Marriott, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches and Andy Teague. Physio: Zoe Jones.
A.J. Wells Man of the Match: Luke Starkey.
Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Deano Magnurson.
Howden Insurance Supporter of the Day: Anton Lavers.
Next Saturday, Ventnor 1sts host Overton in Counties Three action, while the 2nds prepare for a friendly against Isle of Wight 2nds.
