Vectis RFC’s junior teams enjoyed another impressive weekend of rugby, with the U14 girls securing victory over New Milton and the U11s recording 3 convincing wins at Farnborough.
Youngsters across 6 age groups were in action, producing determined defensive displays, impressive individual performances and plenty of tries as the club’s developing talent continued to shine.
U14 GIRLS: OAK CUBS 36 – 21 NEW MILTON
The Vectis U14 girls joined forces with Oakmeadians to secure an impressive 36–21 league victory over New Milton.
Playing together as the ‘Oak Cubs’, the girls built on friendships formed during a previous pitch-up-and-play event and made a flying start with 2 early tries.
New Milton fought back, but some excellent kicking from Daisy kept the scoreboard moving in the Oak Cubs’ favour.
Aitana produced a crucial try-saving tackle, while Julia adapted superbly to the unfamiliar hooker position during the 8-player scrums.
Lexi led by example with powerful carries and strong leadership, but Player of the Match honours went to Evie, who battled through knocks to score a vital try from the second row.
U13S: NEW MILTON 5 – 0 VECTIS
Vectis U13s suffered their first defeat of the season, going down 5–0 in a closely contested encounter against New Milton.
The Islanders produced a determined defensive performance, holding their opponents scoreless for the opening 15 minutes in a match where their efforts deserved more than the final result suggested.
Jack P impressed throughout the first half, while Edward C was named Coaches’ Player for his tireless work competing for possession at the breakdown.
Albert B and Henry D contributed important second-half tackles, with Arlo W earning the opposition’s Man of the Match award.
Head Coach Steve Dixon described the defeat as a valuable learning experience for his squad, who will look to build on the positives from a hard-fought encounter.
U12S: FARNBOROUGH FESTIVAL
Vectis U12s showed considerable improvement throughout their visit to the Farnborough Festival, recovering from a slow start against a well-drilled Winchester side.
The Islanders grew in confidence as the matches progressed, saving their strongest defensive display of the season for the second half of their third fixture against Wimborne.
The team stood firm through repeated phases of opposition pressure, producing an impressive number of tackles and turnovers.
Hugh Ramsey continued his fine try-scoring form, using his pace and awareness to exploit space out wide.
Leonardo Skittlethorpe-Davis was equally impressive in defence, recording one of the highest tackle counts of the day, including 4 consecutive tackles during one passage of play.
There were also welcome debuts for Ralph Farman and Freddie Kemp, with Farman sharing Player of the Day honours alongside Albee Lynch.
Farman caught the eye with his tackling technique and powerful carries, while Lynch’s relentless defensive work and ability to secure turnovers proved invaluable.
Coach Ed Lynch praised the squad’s physicality and aggression in contact, while identifying defensive positioning as an area to improve in training.
U12 GIRLS: OAK CUBS DEVELOPMENT FESTIVAL
The Vectis and Oakmeadians U12 girls combined for a development festival against New Milton, with player numbers resulting in a mini-tournament format.
Despite facing some physically larger opponents, the Oak Cubs delivered a determined performance, with Alba and Ylva producing several dominant tackles.
Anabelle’s communication and constant pressure helped create multiple try-scoring opportunities.
Player of the Match went to Amelia, who impressed on her full-contact debut and showed great resilience by returning to the action after suffering a shoulder knock.
U11S: FARNBOROUGH FESTIVAL
Vectis U11s enjoyed a dominant outing at Farnborough, recording 3 victories without conceding a single score.
The Islanders defeated Fareham 11–0, Alresford 10–0 and Havant 6–0, combining quick passing and intelligent positioning with disciplined defence.
The team’s ability to move the ball at pace and execute instructions proved particularly impressive throughout the festival.
Coach Steve Keyzor praised the collective performance, describing it as a benchmark for the standards expected from the squad moving forward.
Meanwhile, those U11 players who remained at the club continued their development with a tackling masterclass led by coaches Allan and Luke.
U9S: FARNBOROUGH FESTIVAL
Both Vectis U9 teams demonstrated excellent determination and team spirit during a busy day at Farnborough, battling unexpectedly freezing conditions to complete 5 or 6 matches each.
Despite the cold, spirits remained high, with youngsters encouraging teammates, celebrating successful passages of play and even dancing the conga between fixtures.
Vectis 1 enjoyed a particularly competitive encounter against Winchester, while Arthur proved a prolific try-scorer with 11 tries across the festival.
Ada impressed with her determined running into contact, while Wilson contributed several strong tackles.
Jamie was named Player of the Day for his relentless and disciplined defensive work.
Vectis 2 also produced encouraging performances, ending the festival with an excellent team-created try finished by George.
Elodie made an impressive contribution during her first festival appearance, while Finnley caught the eye with some excellent tackling.
Player of the Day honours went to Daniel, who used his strength to great effect, powering through defenders and dragging opponents across the try line.
The weekend provided further evidence of the progress being made across Vectis RFC’s junior section, with players demonstrating developing skills, resilience and a strong sense of teamwork.
