Saturday’s rugby match between Ventnor RFC and Isle of Wight RFC was always going to be physical and tough match – and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
The match started out fairly evenly with the Ventnor backs running it up the field with pace and power. Dom Marsh impressed massively on debut, playing out of position on the wing. One of his carries resulting in a penalty which Todd Riches gladly turned into 3 points.
Later on in the first half Ventnor looked to score from a break up the middle, but we’re stopped short and ended up being awarded in a penalty, another 3 points for the home side.
Ventnor started out physical and strong in the second half, but a quick turn over of possession and excellent offloading and ball recycling by Isle of Wight led them to gaining a converted try, giving them a one point advantage.
With 3 minutes left Ventnor gained a penalty outwide that was kickable, but with fly half Riches injured, who was to take the kick? Step up ex Isle of Wight player, and prop forward Ricky Keyes. He took his time with the strike as the sun was straight into his eyes but it was perfect. Ventnor took the lead 9-7.
With only a few moments left the home side managed to secure possession after the restart and managed to keep the ball until the clock was in the red. After the referees signal, Andy Gough sent the ball out to touch and meant the final score was Ventnor 9-7 Isle of Wight.
AJ Wells Man of the Match – Dom Marsh
Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Andy Teague
Ventnor – Keyes, Jones, Pratt, Teague, Green, Pickard, Edwards, Colson, Clarke, Riches, Dawson, Gough, Hill, Marsh, Babington (C), Savill, Morley, Blake
Ventnor RFC would like to thank the following for sponsoring the match – Hepburn Planning, Keith Fradgley, HRD Auction Rooms, Bob Turner, TJs Gym.
Ventnor 9 – 7 Isle of Wight
Tottonions arrived hours early hoping for an early kick off but instead had to take in the sights and sounds of Ventnor as they couldn’t access the playing field whilst Ventnor 2XV had to wait for all the “Lions” to arrive.
The game started a bit shambolically as veteran fullback Warren Riches kicked the ball straight into touch from the kick off. Tottonians opted for a scrum in the middle of the pitch, from where flankers Alex and Louis Morton together with scrum half Rob Palmer disrupted the Tottonians back line turning possession over to Max Wheeler who ran in from the half way line to score his first competive try for Ventnor.
Tottonians fought back with vigour but it wasn’t to be as the Lions used their home ground knowledge to keep them pinned in their own half. The pressure lead to a penalty in front of the uprights for Warren Riches to slot yet another three points. Soon after this Tottonians received a yellow card for continuous infringements and their number eight had to spend 10 minutes in the sin bin. Ventnor capitalised on this with another try by rookie fly half Max Wheeler, who by this time ran rings around his opposite number.
Some strict refereeing saw the referee give Giles Hurst his first ever yellow card for diving in a ruck. Tottonions never gave up and came back at the Lions with everything they had but some strong defence from Cory Turner and Ben Atkins stopped them in their tracks.
The game continued with even possession but mostly the Lions capitalising on their possession with tries from Deano Magnerson and Alex Morton. It was truly a day for the young guns, as Gareth Gough showed some electric pace in the second half to run in two tries from the halfway line with no opposition player able to lay as much as a hand on him. The end scoreline of 41-12 flattered the Lions as Tottonians were a tough team to beat.
Team – Stemmet, Franklin , Noyes, S Gough, Davis, L Morton, A Morton, Magnurson, Palmer, Wheeler, Atkins, Turner, Hurst, G Gough, Riches, J Palmer, Annandale
AJ Wells Man of the Match – Max Wheeler
Red Funnel Moment of the Match – Gareth Gough
Ventnor 2XV “The Lions” 41 – 12 Tottonians Vets
