Ventnor kicked off the new season in Hampshire Countires 3 with a promising performance against a strong Aldershot and Fleet side which was undone by a lack of discipline.
Ventnor had the better of the opening phases with the new axis of Joe Coghlan and Max Wheeler at nine and ten playing with great assurance. Wheeler was outstanding throughout, mixing up his game with some excellent kicking, distribution and making ground with his own physical presence.
The first score came after his outstanding touch-finder from which the Islanders laid siege to the Aldershot line until Dan Lythgoe powered over. Wheeler duly converted from far out (7-0).
With Lewis Jones making powerful runs into the opposition lines, it was all Ventnor at this point with the support of Andy Teague and Nathan Frampton very evident. Adam Pratt was anchoring a powerful scrum and Lewy Morton was ruling the airways in the lineout.
From a fluid move in the centre of the field, Ed Blake, Jake Babington, Ben Savill and George Collett made ground, and Wheeler slotted the resultant penalty (10-0).
However, the danger signs were evident as Ventnor’s enthusiasm led to a rising penalty count coupled with a desire to play in all parts of the pitch when a safety-first boot to touch may have been the preferred option. Hence, Aldershot hit back when a quickly taken tap penalty led to a converted try on the left to bring the score back to (10-7). This was quickly followed by a penalty kick so that half-time was reached with the teams level.
Half time: Ventnore10-10 Aldershot & Fleet
The 2nd half was a more scrappy affair from which Aldershot came out on top after both Lewis Howard (having a storming debut) and Dan Lythgoe were shown the yellow card and the visitors were able to notch up a couple of tries from line-out drives. But Ventnor kept showing their skills with Tom Crews strong in attack and defence and the bench of Fred Fairman, Lewis Wyatt and Sam Lines adding power and pace to the occasion.
Jack Gilbey – on his 1st XV debut – didn’t get much chance in attack but his defensive duties were well in evidence and both he and Howard look like real prospects. Ventnor’s 2nd half try was scored by Ed Blake after a series of scrums and drives on the opposition line where the patient ball retention was excellent. Wheeler once again converted and Ventnor ended the game once more encamped on the Aldershot line in a last ditch effort to grab a deserved draw only for yet another penalty to dash their hopes.
Full time: Ventnor 17–24 Aldershot & Fleet
Ventnor: Pratt, Jones, Lythgoe, Frampton, Teague, Collett, L.Morton, Savill (capt), Coghlan, Wheeler, E.Blake, Howard, Crews, Gilbey, Babington
Subs: Fairman, Wyatt, Lines Coaches: Neil Evans, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches, Dean Magnurson Physio: Sarah Watt
A.J.Wells Man of the Match: Lewis Jones
Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Jake Babington
Ventnor 2XV kicked off their campaign in Hampshire Premiership South with a 48-12 loss to a well drilled Chichester 3rd XV.
Chichester started off on the front foot with an early try, but this was short lived with some excellent work out the back of a strong scrum with Harry Ottley working the ball out to Grant Richardson, who then offloaded quickly to Layton Greatorex, who powered through unchallenged for the first try after a perfectly timed interception from what looked like a certain Chichester attack. Henrik Brown stepped up with confidence to convert for his first points in the Lions jersey.
Ventnor continued the hard work from the front with the props Jack Rushton and Tristan Price making good runs with the ball to break down the wall.
Ventnor came out for the 2nd half wanting more and that showed when Ben Souter made a brilliant run off the scrum to work Ventnor up the field with the support of Dean Magnurson and James Blake.
The 2nd half proved to be a little tougher for the Islanders although their scrum still dominated allowing Charlie Magnurson and Callum Martin plenty of space to push through with support from Brad Francis.
Ventnor had to bring in the help of both wingers Ollie Wood and Ben Atkins to bolster the strong drive up the field followed by the excellent support from Iain Reeves, Ewan Castle and Neil Evans.
Despite the result, Ventnor still had plenty of positives to take away from the first game of the season and look forward to the next one at home to Portsmouth 3rd XV at Watcombe Bottom
Full time: Eastleigh 48-12 Ventnor
Ventnor: Rushton (capt), Brown, Price, Reeves, Martin, D.Magnurson, C.Magnurson, Richardson, Souter, Ottley, Atkins, G.Davis, Greatorex, Wood, Castle Subs: J. Blake, Francis
A J Wells Man of the Match: Harry Ottley
Red Funnel Moment of the Match: James Blake
