IWRFC 2nd XV 18 v Ventnor 2nd XV 28 - 19/12/09
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 5:34PM An entertaining local derby went the way of Ventnor’s second string at Wootton Rec. A strong second half Ventnor forward display proved the Island’s undoing in a close encounter.
In freezing conditions, the pitch was deemed playable by both captains and the referee. To the second team’s credit, no one baulked at the prospect of playing on a hard pitch which was at its dodgiest near the clubhouse. No injuries were sustained over the 80 minutes.
The home side began in blistering form, as good quality ball was moved quickly wide for speedster Ian Rock to round the defence and score a fine try. Kieran Leahy converted, but Ventnor were soon to reply with a try from a quick penalty to make the score 7-5.
The half then settled down into a seesaw affair, as neither team could establish dominance and took turns to attack. Simon Gilpin and Sam Heighway were impressive at halfback throughout for the IW. In this period Leahy and Riches kicked two penalty goals each, and the Island led 13-11 coming up to halftime. Ventnor then made the most of a disjointed lineout phase to break through for a converted try to lead 18-13 at the break. There was still time for a decent brawl though, at the end of which Gilpin and a Ventnor forward were sent to the bin. The referee’s decisive action helped to clean up the game for the remainder.
With the sun at their backs for the second period, the Island were confident of reclaiming the lead, but instead the Ventnor pack upped their game and established territorial advantage for much of the second half. Despite the best efforts of Ali Downer and Dave Gilpin among others, the Island struggled at both scrum and lineout and found it difficult to clear their lines. Ventnor took their opportunities, registering two unconverted scores for a decisive 28-13 lead.
The hosts were not finished though, as replacement Richard Simpson and Lymington Precision Engineers man of the match James Curran set up an attack deep in Ventnor territory. When the ball was recycled, tight forward Andy Brown who had been a threatening ball carrier throughout broke through two tackles and crashed over the whitewash. Rushing the conversion in order to have time to mount another attack, Leahy missed the easy dropkick, but it was academic as the final whistle sounded minutes later. Ventnor merited their victory but the young Island side will have gained vital experience.
The Island firsts return to action on Sunday 3rd January in the Hampshire Cup, hosting Overton at Wootton Rec at 2.15. The seconds are next in action at Alresford on Saturday 9th January.
IW: Leahy, Rock, T. Enticknap, Phillips, Harley, Heighway, S. Gilpin, Brodie, Lilly, Scovell, Downer, Brown, D. Gilpin, Pugh-Panther, Curran. Replacements: T. White, Collinson, Jones, R. Simpson.
