Ventnor comfortably beat a Gosport and Fareham team who travelled with a bare 15 but never gave up on Saturday (11th February).
Ventnor’s superiority was founded in the power of their front 5, where props George Collett and Ben Savill were superb. Coach Jason Evans had the luxury of Dan Lythgoe on the bench and regularly changed the front row throughout the game but, whatever the combination, the result was the same, namely domination. With skipper Lewis Jones putting in another full-court shift supported by his second-row partnership of Andy Teague and the ever-improving Jason Coltham, the pack enjoyed a rewarding afternoon with plenty of ball throughout.
Ventnor could have scored in the 1st minute when Ed Blake broke through, but Jake Babington was tackled into touch just short. Sam Lines was thus 1st to score with a sniping run after Collett, Savill and their mates had driven the Gosport pack off their own ball. Tom Crews – in great form all day – slotted the conversion which he then followed with a penalty to take the score to 10 – 0. Flanker Lewy Morton then dived over after a powerful work by Dan Bell, a great run by winger Ben Soutter and recycling by Collett and Fergus Kenny. Again, Crews converted.
Morton followed his try with a yellow card for a tackle that was deemed high by a referee who allowed no margin for error throughout. Without Morton in defence, the visitors took the chance to pile on the pressure, and only great work by Kenny stopped a try when he held up the ball over the line.
Half time: Ventnor 17 – 0 Gosport and Fareham 2nd XV
Into the second half and it was Ventnor who gained from the referee’s interpretation of a high tackle when a great break by debutant Emile Bleriot was stopped and Crews found a good touch deep into the red zone. The lineout was won, and Ventnor set up a powerful maul from which great hands put Blake over.
George Finan came on for Coltham, and it was his bullocking charge – after a great turnover by Joe Coghlan – that set up Lines for his 2nd try. Then, from the restart, Crews caught the ball and – with a backhanded offload – put Lines away again, this time for his hat trick.
Alan Fox came on for Soutter and was soon rewarded when another heel against the head – the Collett and Lythgoe combo this time – gave the Ventnor stalwart the chance to take an inside line to score.
The game began to deteriorate as injuries began to take their toll on Gosport and Fareham, but there was time for a penalty try for the visitors as both Jones and Kenny received yellow cards for illegal tackles. The final moment of the match saw Bleriot rewarded for an outstanding match as he supported Lines on yet another mazy run to touch down. Crews slotted his 4th conversion.
Full time: Ventnor 46 – 7 Gosport and Fareham 2nd XV
Ventnor: Collett, Jones (capt), Savill, Teague, Coltham, Coghlan, L.Morton, Bell, Bleriot, Kenny, Soutter, Lines, Crews, E.Blake, J.Babington. Subs: Lythgoe, Finan, Fox Coaches: Jason Evans, Fergus Kenny and Clive Cardwell-Hill Physio: Zoe Jones
The A J Wells man of the match: Emile Bleriot
The Red Funnel moment of the match: Lewis Jones
Next Saturday (18th February), Ventnor’s 1st XV play away to Locksheath Pumas and Ventnor’s 2nd XV play away to Lymington
