RUGBYVentnor 11, Nomads 10
WATCOMBE Bottom hosted a tense match eventually won by hosts Ventnor on Saturday.
Ventnor seemed to be comfortable in the first half, with a Todd Riches try in the right-hand corner more than cancelling out an early Nomads penalty.
Damien Marriott then kicked a penalty to give Ventnor an 8-3 half-time lead, although the game could have been put out of Nomads’ reach, had Ventnor not squandered three good opportunities.
They could have been made to pay for those missed chances early in the second half, as Nomads slowly clawed their way back into the game.
Meanwhile, Ventnor seemed to suffer a collective lack of confidence and concentration, with several passes dropped, knock-ons and poor decision making.
When Nomads scored a converted try after 55 minutes, the visitors gained the lead.
However, Ventnor nosed in front shortly afterwards through a Marriott penalty.
As time ticked away, nerves began to unravel and it culminated in Scott Jesney given a yellow card.
Despite being a man down for ten minutes, Ventnor held on for the closest of victories.
Wightlink man of the match was Mario Testa, with Gary Ball winning the A. J. Wells Black Dog award for playing at prop.
This weekend, Ventnor travel to Fawley while Birstall RFC travel to Ventnor on tour for friendly matches on both Saturday and Sunday at Watcombe Bottom.
The matches are being held to raise money and support a Birstall player who suffered a serious injury on the field earlier this season.
Ventnor: Newbery, Jesney, Ball, Pemberton, Testa, Freeston, Pickard, Riches, Silk, Kenny, Lush, Dobbas, Harris, Farnworth, Marriott. Subs: Morley, Williams.