Ventnor 2nds travelled to play a strong Tottonians side, giving them a test for the whole 80 minutes – 79 of which saw the South Wight side in the lead.
A very cagey opening 10 minutes with both sides struggling to maintain continuity and possession but good defensive work from the back row of Coghlan, Gilbert and Magnurson Jr led to a Ventnor penalty which was punted deep into Tottonian territory, and a swift follow-up from the all-action Bulpitt forced a knock-on. From the resultant scrum – with skipper Rushton, hooker Brown and tighthead Skelley working hard and backed up by Teague and Green in the engine room – the ball was worked along the back line and then recycled by the pack. The effective “Munster” drive set up by Skelley enabled Gilbey to cross for the 1st try and fly-half Ottley duly added the extras (0-7).
The Ventnor backs started to get a bit more involved, with Bulpitt and Jones (straying from his usual position of hooker) making inroads into the opposition half. Jones nearly scored, having kicked through and chased his own grubber kick but unfortunately knocked-on in goal to the relief of the hosts (and his own huge embarrassment). The unaccustomed exertion proved too much, forcing Jones off to be replaced by Wheeler, making a welcome return in a Ventnor shirt.
The speed off the mark of the back line was disrupting the home side’s possession, forcing them into errors and wingers Blake and the slippery Wood were finding spaces to run into. Harris at 9 was gaining in confidence as the game progressed and this gave Ottley time to either put his backs away or put in some probing kicks.
From a break by Wood the home side were penalised and gained a yellow card in their 22. A kick for a line out and a subsequent break from Skelley and Coghlan was over for try number two. From wide out Ottley couldn’t add the conversion (0-12).
A Ventnor knock-on in their own 22 led to a Totts scrum, and the hosts thought they had scored wide out, but the referee deemed otherwise and brought them back for a penalty with Ventnor straying offside. Again, the ball went wide and this time Totts did score, and the successful conversion narrowed the gap (7-12).
Half time: Tottonians 3rds 7–12 Ventnor
The first 15 minutes of the 2nd half saw Ventnor playing some of their best rugby with the Ventnor scrum gaining the upper hand and some effective forward support play forcing Totts to give away penalties. Ottley added another 3 points after Totts were penalised for going off their feet (7-15).
Jones then returned to the front row, having got his breath back, but Brown was soon back on as prop Skelley hobbled off. This forced Jones to prop and Brown back as hooker, but still the Ventnor scrum was looking strong. Another reshuffle in the back line as Bulpitt was forced off through injury and Wood through old age. Riches returned to the fray along with Fox, and the visitors forced into some serious defensive work as the hosts pressed for the home win.
A couple of silly penalties for straying offside put Ventnor under pressure, and the Totts speedy back line and full back always looked dangerous in attack. The referee eventually lost patience with the number of Ventnor penalties, and Blake was dispatched to the bin for 10 minutes. More pressure from Totts, sensing an opportunity, and they managed to cross for their 2nd try after Ventnor failed to clear from their own 22. Another excellent kick from the full back (14-15).
Magnurson Jr then left the field after a hard shift to be replaced by Magnurson Snr, so the scrum lost none of its attacking drive. The 2 would swap places again in the final 10 minutes to round off the extensive and effective use of the bench.
The game was building up to a nail-biting finale, and some serious attacking pressure was relieved by some astute kicking from Wheeler and Riches. Another speedy attack from the Totts back line, and Fox received a yellow card for a high tackle – it was so high it was fortunate not to be a straight red.
Ventnor were now down to 13 men, and it was always going to be difficult to keep a determined Totts side at bay. So it proved when an attempted clearance kick went out on the full and from the subsequent line out, a combination of lack of numbers and some poor tackling, and Totts breathed a huge sigh of relief, scoring a try under the posts with the final move of the game. Such are the margins between victory and defeat. Had the clearance kick been good then Ventnor would have gained a 50-22 line out and might have hung on for the win!
With another successful conversion, the final score was 21-15.
Full time: Tottonians 3rds 21–15 Ventnor
Ventnor 2nds: Rushton (capt), Frances, Skelley, Teague, Green, Coghlan, Gilbey, C.Magnurson, Harris, H.Ottley, Wood, Bulpitt, Jones, E.Blake, W.Riches. Subs. H.Wheeler, Martin, D.Magnurson, Fox Coaches: Neil Evans, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches, Dean Magnurson
A J Wells Man of the Match: Harvey Wheeler
Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Alan Fox
