VENTNOR VANQUISH FORMIDABLE EASTLEIGH OPPONENTS AT WATCOMBE BOTTOM

Ventnor comprehensively beat a strong Eastleigh side on Saturday (17th February).  It was an unusual luxury for Ventnor to be able to pick from an almost full-strength squad for this Hampshire league encounter against a strong Eastleigh side. In front of the usual enthusiastic Watcombe crowd, the match began in a pretty even fashion with defences on top. The damp conditions and the soggy ground called for a territory game, but Ventnor were playing their usual expansive game from any corner of pitch. This led to some difficult moments when the ball went to ground or was turned over especially as Eastleigh had an excellent kicking game that pinned the home side back. It was Ventnor who put the 1st points on the board with a penalty from Ed Blake after a sustained attack. This settled a few nerves, but the game entered into a state of stalemate in which the tackling count from both teams was exceptional.  Ben Savill was leading by example both in the set-piece – where he and his front row colleagues, Will Harrison and George Collett gained parity against a much heavier pack – and in the loose, where his barging runs provided a spearhead for his fellow forwards, in which Jason Coltham was having another superb game and making the extra hard yards. Joe Coghlan and Lewy Morton were putting pressure on the opposition’s throw into the lineout, which stopped Eastleigh from taking advantage of their gains in territory and any wide-out attacks were stemmed by the commitment in the tackle by Fred Fairman and Callum Martin. The highlights of the half were an excellent break out from Blake that almost put Fairman in down the right and some kick-and-chase rugby by Sam Lines where the bounce – or lack of it – just evaded the hands. Just before the break, Eastleigh were awarded a penalty which they slotted so that the half ended with the scores even. Half time: Ventnor 3 – 3 Eastleigh 2nds The 2nd half started with a welcome return for Lewis Jones, who came on for the ever-improving Will Harrison. Ben Cooper replaced Martin, whose confidence rises with every game. Ventnor’s fitness began to show dividends, epitomised by Guy Entwistle who had a storming game off the back of the scrum and he, Savill and Jones began to soften up Eastleigh’s midfield defence so that Josh Rettie at flyhalf was able to start running things and put Lines, Layton Greatorex and Cooper through the gaps.  This led to Ventnor’s 1st try of the day scored by Rettie himself after good rugby from Collett, Coghlan and Greatorex. Blake converted. More excellent work by the pack and quick service from Ben Souter led to a 2nd try – this time from Greatorex who was given an inch of space on the left by slick passing from Rettie and Lines. The muscular centre made short work of the remaining defence and swept over the line for his 1st try for Ventnor. To their credit, Eastleigh came back hard, and Greatorex was shown a yellow for a high tackle after a sustained defensive shift by Ventnor in which Fairman and Coltham were on point. Eventually, the visitors settled for a penalty, even though they were a man up and needed to speed the game up. Ventnor went back on the attack, and a fluid move was halted by an interception which was only stopped by an extraordinary chase back and tackle by 2nd-row Andy Teague. After this heroic bit of defence, Ventnor’s coaches deemed that Teague needed a rest, and Grant Richardson came on to add his brand of power and deceptive speed to Ventnor’s armoury, and this helped in setting up Sam Lines, who danced through for a terrific try which Blake converted and put the home side in the clear. Eastleigh scored a consolation try when the home side switched off for a second, but it was Ventnor who finished strongly, and Guy Entwistle scored the try his performance deserved after a quick-fire heel against the head.  With the try bonus point in the bag, Blake once more converted from far out. Full time: Ventnor 29-13 Eastleigh 2nds Ventnor: Harrison, Collett, Savill (capt), Teague, Coltham, Coghlan, L.Morton, Entwistle, Souter, Rettie, Martin, Lines, Greatorex, Fairman, E.Blake Subs: Jones, Richardson, Cooper Coaches: Jason Evans and Clive Cardwell-Hill A.J.Wells Man of the Match: Josh Rettie The Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Lewis Jewy Jones