Ventnor 19-45 Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight RFC made it two wins from two with a comprehensive win at Watcombe Bottom. Bar the opening 15 minutes where they had to absorb plenty of Ventnor pressure, IW were always in control on the scoreboard and amassed seven tries in total.
Conditions were sunny and conducive to good rugby, which was produced by both sides for spells during the game. IW had comfortably beaten Ventnor at the end of last season and a home backlash was anticipated, and true to form, it was the hosts who monopolised possession and territory for the opening quarter hour. However, IW defence held, with the likes of Michael Joyce and Harri Jones-Evans unyielding in the three-quarters. Two kickable penalties were yielded, but Ventnor could not convert.
IW eventually broke out and showed the cutting edge that would serve them well throughout. The opening score came on 15 minutes, at the end of good phase play before the ball was moved wide at the right moment, full-back Mark Waterer scoring out wide. Waterer was always a danger, while half-backs Alex Augustus and George Huish mixed their game nicely, causing the Ventnor rearguard no end of difficulties. It was speedy fly-half Huish who scored the second with an outside half-break following strong forward pressure, and his conversion saw IW up 12-0 after 23 minutes.
Ventnor did respond well, as Lewis Jones exploited poor IW tackling to crash over and narrow the gap. However, this respite was short lived as IW captain Luke Blackman broke the line near halfway, and then showed superb pace and sidestepping to evade the cover and touch down. IW were immediately back on the offensive, building pressure on the Ventnor line through their forwards which yielded a series of penalties. Blackman spotted an opportunity to take the penalty quickly, barging over in the corner to secure the four-try bonus. Huish converted brilliantly from the touchline, giving IW a 26-5 lead at the break.
George Huish conversion attempt
The second half would initially see the IW attack continue to function efficiently, taking their opportunities when they entered the 22. It was based on an extremely efficient lineout which was variously used for quick ball or mauling, and impressive work on both sides of the ball at the breakdown, with Biffa man of the match Ian Bennett and Andi Raunigger showing up well. The opening 15 minutes of the second half were again scoreless, but after sustained pressure on the Ventnor line, Fountain Inn man of the match Blackman completed his hat-trick to extend his team’s lead to 33-5.
The scoreline had the potential to get very ugly for Ventnor at this stage, but to their credit, they dug in and raised their intensity as the second half progressed. They replied with their own converted try shortly afterwards, and notably had the better of the scrums throughout, which IW will need to address going forward. After a period of stalemate and error-ridden rugby from both sides, IW soon scored again. There seemed little danger as James Webster crabbed across the pitch, but he then straightened and found Waterer on the overlap, who raced in for his second. He almost added his third shortly afterwards, but it was Ventnor who touched down next, Bell crashing over from the base of a close-in scrum.
IW were determined to have the last word and did so, rediscovering their attacking excellence from earlier as player-coach Keith Wallace barrelled over. Huish added his fifth conversion and IW celebrated a good win, backing up their season opener from last week. They host Portsmouth II on Saturday, with a 3 pm kickoff at Wootton Rec.
IW: Waterer, M Joyce, Jones-Evans, Margham, Rolfe, Huish, Augustus, Newnham, McQueen, D Bishop, Blackburn, Pudney, Bennett, Webster, L Blackman ©. Replacements: Raunigger, Ormerod, Wallace.
