Ventnor secured a narrow 3-point victory in North Hampshire against an Andover 2nd XV in Hampshire Counties 3 on Saturday (1st October).
Ventnor travelled to Andover with a strong team, which featured several players starting in unfamiliar positions. Things didn’t start well, with some weak first-up tackling allowing a blindside move to result in a converted try to Andover.
Great work at the restart by Lewy Morton inspired a period of pressure by the Islanders that featured some excellent running rugby, where Todd Riches and Tom Crews – increasingly effective in his new role in the centre – were prominent, combined with some powerful charges from Andy Addison and skipper Lewis Jones, playing at flanker. The pressure paid off when, after George Collett got close, Dan Bell put scrum-half Ed Blake in for a try, which Crews narrowly failed to convert.
Charlie Magnurson came on when the ageless Tristan Price took a nasty cut, and Ventnor had to reorganise, which broke up their momentum. This was exacerbated when Riches received a yellow card for a tackle by Jake Babington that was adjudged high.
This mishap resulted in a period of pressure by the home team, which was sensationally lifted by the anticipation of Sam Lines, who intercepted a pass on his own line and somehow beat the opposition cover to run the length of the field. Suddenly, Ventnor were in the lead by 10 points to 7 as the referee blew the whistle for halftime.
Half time: Andover 2nds 7-10 Ventnor
The 2nd half started badly for Ventnor when a midfield move broke down and Andover scored a converted try, which took them back into the lead. However, the Islanders were in confident mood, epitomised by the running of players such as Magnurson, George Finan and Josh Braham.
Andover were playing a tight game, suited to their bigger forwards, but the defence around the ruck by Ben Savill, Morton and Jones was exemplary. When an opportunity arose, Blake took the ball up and – with an exquisite delayed pass – put Bell through a gap. Blake then followed up, and Bell spotted the two-on-one and returned the pass to put his scrum-half over for his 2nd try. Crews converted, and Ventnor were back in the lead.
Magnurson had to leave the field with an ankle injury that he bravely tried to shake off to no avail. This meant that Fergus Kenny had to leave the coaches’ technical area and slot in at fly-half. This disruption and reorganisation allowed Andover to score a push-over try to regain the lead with just minutes left.
Undismayed, Ventnor came straight back, and a move involving Crews, Lines and Babington gave Joel Walton – in support as ever – some space to run into. The 2nd-row fixed the Andover full-back and drove for the line, with 3 of his mates helping him power over for a fabulous try, so that Ventnor retook the lead with 2 minutes left on the clock.
Andover went on a desperate offensive, but Ventnor were not going to be denied, and the final whistle went with the score of 19 – 22 to the visitors, who recorded an excellent win on the road.
Full time: Andover 2nds 19 – 22 Ventnor
Ventnor: Collett, Savill, Price, Addison, Walton, Jones (capt), L.Morton, Bell, E.Blake, T.Riches, Braham, Lines, Crews, Finan, J.Babington. Subs: C.Magnurson, Kenny.
A J Wells man of the match: Joel Walton
Red Funnel moment of the match: Ed Blake
