Isle of Wight demolish Ventnor in rugby season's first derby

ISLE OF WIGHT 35, VENTNOR 7

The hosts celebrated their first home league game of the season in style with a dominant performance. 

The Island team played some scintillating rugby at times, which augurs well for the campaign ahead.

With a stronger deck to choose from at the weekend, including impressive newcomer Bradley Martin in the second row, covering the absence of brother, Aidan, IW set the tone from the outset, with direct carrying and exemplary support play.

It allowed them to play at pace, with centre, Sam McQueen, and forward, Andy Brown, especially effective. 

George Huish, after two penalty misses, eventually found his kicking radar — pinning the opposition back with some judicious tactical kicks. 

Ventnor gave nothing easily, but the pressure told as multiple phases ended with seasoned prop Martin Newnham barrelling over after 13 minutes, converted by Huish for a 7-0 lead.

It was almost all IW for the remainder of the half, as Ventnor failed to gain any traction or sustained territory. 

The hosts spent most of their time in the opposing half, but doughty defence and occasional errors kept the scoreline unchanged until the 35-minute mark.

As gaps appeared and fleet-footed, Huish applied the finishing touch to make it 14-0 — but there was another twist to come before half-time. 

With IW on the attack and seeking another try, Sam Lines intercepted and set off on a length of the field odyssey. 

A Herculean effort from corner-flagging veteran, Ed Lynch, cut Lines off, but he was able to link up with his support for a dramatic Ventnor try. 

The conversion left the half-time score at 14-7.

The second half followed a similar vein to the first, but this time Isle of Wight were more clinical in attack. 

Helped by a succession of penalties, which led to two yellow cards for Ventnor players, man of the match Cameron Browne helped to set up field position — outflanking the defence and allowing Huish to cross over for his second try. 

The fly-half was soon celebrating his hat-trick, fed by full-back Aaron Young following an incredible side-stepping run.

One-way traffic continued, before captain Luke Blackman smashed over for his customary score from a tap penalty, with Huish adding the extras for a personal tally of 25 points. 

With 20 minutes remaining, the score had the potential to become uglier for Ventnor, but to their credit, they showed some steely resolve in the final quarter. 

A sporting, well-contested match in which IW played to their potential for most of the game, rather than in brief spells.

IWRFC: Young, Wynyard-Wright, Webster, McQueen, Browne, Huish, Hanson, Newnham, Bennett, Keyes, Martin, Brown, Pudney, Lynch, Blackman. Replacements: Puzey, Rolfe, Wallace.
Ventnor: Pratt, Jones (capt), Savill, Coltham, Collett, A.Morton, Coughlin, L.Morton, Souter, Lines, Turner, Fairman, Braham, Blake, Crews. Replacements: Price, Richardson, Cooper.