INJURY-HIT VENTNOR RFC SUCCUMB TO FAREHAM HEATHENS AT WATCOMBE BOTTOM

Ventnor’s season in Hampshire Counties 3 continues to disappoint after a heavy home defeat to Fareham Heathens on Saturday (25th November). Jake Babington led out the team against the high-flying Fareham Heathens team who were on top form and will surely be contesting for top honours at the end of the season. The visitors scored 5 tries in the 1st half and converted 4 of them. The game was pretty much over as a contest. Ventnor were the first to show as Babington snaked his way up-field and found the A J Wells man of the match Ben Souter whose pace took him up the left touchline to within 10 metres of the line. Ventnor’s problems started in the lineout where the Islanders missed the aerobatic Joe Coghlan so Lewy Morton was the only catching option. This put huge pressure on Morton and stand-in hooker Will Harrison, and little came from this element. The set scrum was also struggling against the massive Heathens’ pack, but somehow George Collett, Harrison and the redoubtable Tristan Price did well to withstand the power but – once again – Souter was tasked with cleaning up scruffy ball at the base. In open play, Ventnor showed some positive skills with the balanced 2nd-row pair of Jason Coltham and Andy Teague putting in the hard yards whilst Grant Richardson was a powerful presence in both attack and defence. Richardson continues to improve with every match and his physicality is a huge bonus to the squad. Harry Colson’s power was also on display and, as his fitness continues to improve, his work in attack and defence provided many bright moments.  Morton had his usual all-action game in which he covered every blade of grass as his tackle count rose exponentially. 1 such tackle was a certain try-saver as the Heathens’ giant left winger powered towards the line. Behind the scrum, fly-half  Tom Crews was receiving the ball under immense pressure and did an exceptional job of clearing his lines or getting his backs moving. Ben Cooper and Joel Cocks – the latter welcomed back to the team – paired up in the centres where Cooper’s power running and Cocks’ pace and footwork made a fine impression while Fred Fairman had a great game in a losing cause on the left wing.  On the other wing, Ed Blake displayed his usual desire to be in the midst of the action and his acceleration and balance often took him into the heart of the opposition. With a half-time score of 0 – 33, many a team would have waved the white flag and allowed a cricket score to ensue, but it says a great deal about this Ventnor team that they resisted the Heathens as Layton Greatorex, Will Broomfield and Jack Rushton came on to reinforce the fabric of the side. The set scrum began to steady as the visitors tired and some clever variations in the line-out paid dividends. Broomfield, Colson, Teague and Coltham took the game to the opposition with some neat pick-and-goes. Fairman crashed through 2 defenders and was just brought down short of the line.  Cooper also nearly made it as Ventnor laid siege to the visitors’ line before Souter and Crews fed Colson, who crashed over for the long-awaited Ventnor try which Cooper converted. Full time: Ventnor 7 – 55 Fareham Heathens Ventnor: Collett, Harrison, Price, Coltham, Teague, Richardson, Colson, L.Morton, Souter, Crews, Fairman, Cooper, Cocks, E.Blake, Babington (capt) Subs: Rushton, Broomfield, Greatorex Coaches: Jason Evans, Clive Cardwell-Hill Physio: Sarah Watt A J Wells Man of the Match: Ben Souter Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Ed Blake Next Saturday 2nd December, Ventnor 1sts play away at Aldershot & Fleet