With their 1st XV flying south to Guernsey, it was a chance for Ventnor’s 2nd XV to take centre stage at Watcombe Bottom for a league game against a strong, close-knit and well-drilled Winchester Knights team on Saturday (28th January).
Immediately at the whistle, it looked like Ventnor were in for a very long afternoon, with the talented and experienced Winchester side racking up 5 converted tries in the first 20 minutes, but – to their immense credit – the Islanders began to get a foothold in the game. It started with the set scrum where prop Jack Rushton was outstanding and fully belied the fact that he had been up for the best part of the week awaiting the birth of his daughter Olivia, born just the day before.
With Mike Flanagan’s losing his battle against his ankle injury early on, Aaron Newman came on as hooker and had a storming game, winning several strikes against the head as well as ruling the airways in the lineout. Skipper James Blake and Grant Richardson were a powerhouse in the 2nd row, which helped secure clean ball enabling the experience of Rosco Harris and Todd Riches to use the wider spaces and start to work the visitors’ big forwards around the pitch. The imposing centre partnership of James Green and Gav Davis began to make inroads, and it was a real shame when Davis had to leave the pitch with hamstring issues after an exceptional piece of cover defence. Winchester, however, managed 1 more try before halftime to lead 0 – 38.
Half time: Ventnor 2nd XV 0-38 Winchester Knights
After the break, it was a much more even contest with the returning Tim Davis – playing at number eight – and his back-row partners, Steve Maskell and debutant Nathan Frampton making some serious charges, with great support from Richardson, Blake and Rushton. It still took some brave defence to keep Winchester at bay, and no one epitomised that more than Harry Ottley – also playing his first game for Ventnor – who looked a real prospect. Warren Riches also put his body on the line on more than one occasion despite his recent rib injury and he and Todd Riches stemmed the tide with some judicious kicking.
Winchester snatched one more try after a well-drilled lineout maul but the last word went to Ventnor after a storming break by Frampton up the middle of the pitch. When stopped, the ball was recycled to the right and after great work by Miles Taylor (yet another very promising debutant), the ball went out to Newman, who sprinted under the posts to ensure the 2nd half was a draw.
Full time: Ventnor 2nd XV 5-43 Winchester Knights
Ventnor: Rushton, Newman, Flanagan, J.Blake, Richardson, Frampton, Maskell, T.Davis, Harris, T.Riches, Ottley, Green, G.Davis, Taylor and W.Riches Sub (unused): N.Evans Physios: Zoe Jones and Sarah Watt
A.J.Wells Man of the Match: Aaron Newman (Fast Fred)
Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Neil Evans
