Ventnor lost on the road at Southampton to a couple of late tries on Saturday (16th November).
Ventnor travelled to Southampton with Callum Martin as their only substitute, but this didn’t prevent the Islanders put up a sterling performance against a strong Southampton side.
The game began with both sides trading blows in which the defences were to the fore. Southampton were sending their big forwards into the heart of the Ventnor fringes but were continually repelled thanks to the abrasive tackling of Lewy Morton, Joe Coghlan, Dan Lythgoe. If the ball went wide, Alec Bulpitt and Tom Crews were up to the task, and it took a couple of penalties to the home team to take a position under Ventnor’s post. The Ventnor scrum was more than holding its own with Adam Pratt providing the cornerstone from which his fellow front rowers George Collett and Lythgoe could go to work. However, at this scrum, the Islanders were penalised for a brake foot offence, and the Southampton scrum-half darted over from a tap penalty. The try was converted, and Southampton were in the lead (7-0).
By this time, the very promising Iain Reeves was off with a jarred shoulder, meaning a reshuffle. Ventnor’s A J Wells man of the match, Ewan Castle came into the 2nd row, and Martin took his place on the left wing. Ventnor’s habit of giving away penalties at key times was still evident, and Southampton took another 3 points after overenthusiasm in the defensive line.
Ventnor appeared to lack a bit of energy, and coach Neil Evans took the opportunity to rouse his troops, which resulted in an immediate response. Max Wheeler clipped a post with a penalty attempt, and Ed Blake almost got round the defence with a characteristic arcing run. His attempted pass to Cory Turner just failed to connect, and he was bundled into touch 10 yards out. From the position, Ventnor laid siege on the Southampton line, in which the home team received their 1st yellow card from repeated offences, as Ventnor’s pack set up a series of bruising pick-and-goes, with skipper Ben Savill, Lythgoe, Pratt to the fore. Eventually the home defence cracked and Jason Coltham used his full 6ft 4in to stretch over for an excellent try.
Half time: Southampton 10-5 Ventnor
The second half started as the first had finished. Wheeler was getting his kicking game working and the chase was excellent with Ben Souter, Crews and Bulpitt continually putting the catcher under enormous pressure. Coupled to this, Ventnor’s line-out was nigh-on perfect with Pratt taking on the throwing duties (with Lewis Jones out with bruised ribs) and finding his jumpers with unerring accuracy. A Savill catch and drive set up another position from which Ventnor battered the fringe defence despite repeated Southampton offences. The referee eventually lost patience with the home team, brandishing another yellow and awarding a penalty try. Ventnor now led (10 – 12).
Southampton came back with a try of their own, as Ventnor began to tire. Reeves bravely came back on, but Ventnor went further behind with an excellent penalty from the Southampton fly-half before hitting back with another pick and go try from Collett (17 – 17).
Ventnor were not to add to their total, as their tackling at last began to look unconvincing, and Southampton were able to break through for a brace of late tries, which took the score to 25 – 17, so that the Islanders weren’t able to take a deserved losing bonus point. However, this didn’t take anything away from a performance which defined a unity of purpose that had put a strong Southampton under so much goal-line pressure they received a total of 4 yellow cards (one player being yellowed twice and thus red carded late in the game).
The referee took time out to interrupt their post-match debrief to praise Ventnor for their sportsmanship, respect and discipline throughout the match.
Full time: Southampton 25-17 Ventnor
Ventnor: Lythgoe, Collett, Pratt, Reeves, Coltham, Coghlan, L.Morton, Savill (capt), Souter, Wheeler, Castle, Bulpitt, Crews, E.Blake. Sub: Martin Coaches: Neil Evans, Clive Cardwell-Hill, Todd Riches and Dean Magnurson Physio: Sarah Watt Linesman: Andy Wall
A.J.Wells Man of the Match: Ewan Castle
Red Funnel Moments of the Match: Ben Savill
Ventnor 1sts host Eastleigh 2nds next Saturday (23rd Nov) at Watcombe while Ventnor 2nds will play Portsmouth 3rds – also at home.
