Match Report
Ventnor 13 - 17 Chineham RFC
Chineham went from relegation favourites to survival hopefuls with their first win on the Isle of Wight in 11 years in what may prove to be the most important 80 minutes of the entire season.
Chineham started well taking the game to the hosts retaining the ball and winning crucial set piece against the head. A clean ruck with quick ball outside of Ventnor’s 22, set up Fly Half Mark Avenell to run in a brilliant solo try leaving 4 of the Ventnor backline wondering what had just happened.
Ventnor fought back though and following a couple of unforced errors Ventnor went over to level the score. However, this try proved to be the turning point in the game with the yellow carding of Lock Pete Mayhead for a late tackle and the red carding of the Ventnor outside centre for an unnecessary retaliation.
It was this gap in the back line that would hurt Ventnor from that point forward, and although the hosts went into the break 8-5 the better, with Chineham winning the set piece and winning turnovers at the breakdown, the writing was on the wall. Two second half tries from centre Matt Mardell seemed to put the game beyond a home side that looked beaten.
With 20 minutes of the game to go, Chineham began to feel the nerves as victory seemed certain. The side began giving away a series of unforced errors and penalties which gave Ventnor momentum to score a second time.
With Chineham facing an increasing defensive conclusion, the pack’s weight was increased with substitutions that made an already unbroken scrum even more unbreakable. Chineham then turned defence into attack and the final whistle saved Ventnor from an almost certain 4th try.
Ventnor’s misery was compounded with the announcement of a 2 point deduction for administrative errors and with Chineham picking up their first points of the season they find themselves off the foot of the table and only 2 points away from safety.
Troubled Nomads and Lytchett Minster must now worry about their away trips to a rejuvenated team.