Top-of-the-table Ventnor 2nds beat Eastleigh 3rds in Hampshire Counties 5 on Saturday (11th November). Ventnor 2nds took on the challenge of a powerful Eastleigh 3rd XV with relish and, although the usual dominance in the set scrum was missing, they found a way of prevailing after a 1st half where the game was pretty even. Ventnor started well when an early charge by Harry Colson and great support from James Green and Dean Magnurson resulted in a penalty for Ventnor which Warren Riches nervelessly slotted. Eastleigh were working hard in defence, and they needed to with James Pemberton and Layton Greatorex – having an outstanding debut – forming a powerful combination in the centres. The home team had chances themselves and it needed a desperate try-saving tackle from Jimmy Excell to put their rapid winger into touch. Unfortunately, that was Excell’s last contribution as he left the field with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Bradley Francis. Eastleigh got a reward with a penalty when Parker was pinged for not rolling away but the latter made up for it by taking the game straight back to the home side, which was only stopped by a blatant high tackle that deserved more than just a penalty. Parker had to leave the field and Tristan Price came on into the second row. Gav Davis made a storming return after a kick ahead which was taken on by Rosco Harris and was only stopped by foul play. Riches kicked the penalty and a very long first half came to an eventual halt with Ventnor leading 6 – 3. Half time: Eastleigh 3rds 6-3 Ventnor 2nds The 2nd half began with another break from Colson, Davis and Charlie Magnurson, which resulted in a siege on Eastleigh’s line. Gary Ball and Francis set the ball up, and skipper Jack Rushton drove over to score. Riches converted. Charlie Magnurson then scored after fine work by Harry Ottley in the line out and yet another charge from Colson. Again Riches converted. Harris then made a searing break, which ended 10 metres short when his hamstring rebelled, but the move was rescued by Pemberton, who put Greatorex in for a debut try. Allan Bridges came on for Harris, and Callum Martin replaced Colson after an epic performance. Eastleigh gained good territory after a kick ahead and – despite strong defence from Ewan Castle and Dean Magnurson – muscled over for a converted try. Nathan Frampton came on for Price and immediately demonstrated his growing confidence in defence and attack, but the game was getting scrappy and an Eastleigh forward was yellow-carded for trying – and failing – to strong-arm Davis. The referee then reciprocated with a yellow card for Rushton after some shenanigans, and the final whistle blew exactly 2 hours after the start of the game! Full time: Eastleigh 3rds 12-25 Ventnor 2nds This result maintains Ventnor’s position at the head of the Hampshire Counties 5 South league. A gap in the calendar means they don’t play again until they travel to play Portsmouth 3rds on 9th December Ventnor: Rushton (capt), Excell, Ball, Green, Parker, D.Magnurson, C.Magnurson, Colson, Harris, W.Riches, Ottley, Pemberton, Greatorex, G.Davis, Castle Subs: Price, Francis, Bridges, Frampton, Martin Coaches: Jason Evans, Clive Cardwell-Hill Physios: Sarah Watt A J Wells Man of the Match: Layton Greatorex Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Ross Harris
Ventnor 1sts were comprehensively beaten by Eastleigh 2nds in Hampshire Counties 3. Stricken by injuries, player unavailable and last-minute call-offs, Ventnor mixed and matched their team and put on a strong performance against an Eastleigh team on a pitch that suited the home side’s weight and power. Jason Cotham and George Collet did well in the line-out, but the set scrum was under pressure all game, which put Ben Souter at scrum-half under huge pressure. In the circumstances, he did extremely well but it resulted in slow ball for an only half-fit Sam Lines at fly-half, which meant little impact from Ventnor’s three-quarters. Despite this Fred Fairman and Ed Blake kept themselves in the game in both attack and defence, but Dylan Gray and Alan Fox on the wings got no ball at all but showed up well to resist the home attacks. Eastleigh scored early on as Ventnor sorted out their new combinations after which they began to get into the match with Jason Coltham, Andy Teague, Dan Lythgoe and skipper Lewis Jones taking the game to the opposition with great support from Harvey Wheeler and Ben Savill. It took a blatant offside from a knock-on from the home side to get them back up the field, from where they scored a penalty followed by their 2nd try just before half-time. This seemed to knock the current fragile confidence of Ventnor and that, plus injuries to Jones, Gray and Fox, meant that the Islanders never looked like making a comeback despite the repeated hard running of Jake Babington from the back and the persistence of Grant Richardson and replacements Will Harrison and Olly Wood. The remarkable Tristan Price came on when Jones was injured and – as always – showed an appetite for the battle that was an inspiration to his fellows, and Ventnor finished the game with an attack that was halted just short of the line. Full time: Eastleigh 2nds 37-0 Ventnor. Ventnor: Collett, Savill, Lythgoe, Teague, Richardson, H.Wheeler, Coltham, Jones (capt), Souter, Lines, Fox, Fairman, E.Blake, Gray, Babington Subs: Price, Harrison and Wood Coaches: Jason Evans and Clive Cardwell-Hill Physio: Sarah Watt A J Wells Man of the Match: Jason Coltham Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Tristan Price Next week Ventnor 1sts XV play Havant 3rds XV at Watcombe. Kick-off is at 14:30.
