RUGBYStoneham 16, Ventnor 40
VENTNOR finished their promotion-winning season with a high scoring win against Stoneham although they missed their 700-point target in the league by just four.
The Islanders started slowly but soon hit their stride when Todd Riches put Chris Dobbas into space, who in turn sent out the scoring pass for Damien Marriott to touch down.
Ben Lush, starting for the first time in the fly-half berth, cut through to put the impressive Sam Lines in at the corner. Stoneham were beginning to falter and lost a scrum to allow Riches to barge over. He immediately followed this up with a second try, this time straight from an opposition line out.
Just before half time, Shaun Williams took a great line-out catch to allow skipper and A. J. Wells Black Dog award winner Danny Newbery, to bundle over.
After Jim Pemberton was forced off the field with injury, Ventnor were galvanised and scored a further five tries, through Ben Cooper, two, Lush, Lines and Jake Babington.
League top points scorer Marriott kicked seven conversions. Simon Farnworth was Wightlink man of the match. Ventnor: Jesney, Williams, Newbery, Pemberton, Morley, Ball, Farnworth, Riches, Silk, Lush, Babington, Lines, Dobbas, Cooper, Marriott.
Alresford II 20, Ventnor II 52
A strong Ventnor travelled to Alresford and came away with a convincing win which should secure the Island side’s promotion into Merit Table Two for next season.
Ventnor started strongly with Will Bridges in for an early try before hooker Bob Engelgardt dived over.
After Alresford responded, Ventnor bit back with Rob Newton powering over. And, from the resulting kick off, Warren Fresle was released for another Ventnor score.
In the second half, Ventnor continued their charge with Nolan Winter going over, before Fresle scored his second.
Although Alresford grab-bed a couple of tries in the second half, Ventnor scored the best try of the day when several members were involved in a move which ended with Jake Babington offloading to his father, Stuart, to score, before Jake scored one of his own.
Warren Riches converted six.
Kyle Draper was awarded the Wightlink man of the match medal for his brilliant debut while Winter took the A. J. Wells Black Dog badge.
A special A. J. Wells Black Dog award was presented to Mike Flanagan as he stood down as second team captain.
Ventnor: Flanagan, Engelgardt, Newton, Dilnot, Winter, Draper, McGovern, Fresle, Malkin, A. Bridges, Meadowcroft, J. Babington, Z. Bridges, W. Bridges, Riches. Sub: S. Babington.