Match Report for Lytchett Minster 1 Vs Ventnor on 06 Jan 2007
Lytchett Minsters Unbeaten Run Halted
Lytchett Minster travelled to second place Ventnor at the weekend, knowing that only a win would keep them in top spot. The weather on Saturday was atrocious and the team who could conquer the conditions would win the match and following a competitive game Ventnor were eventually victorious 18 – 10.
Ventnor applied pressure through their forwards from the very start and dominated the first half. Just before half time Ventnor were rewarded with a try coming from 3 phases of forward play and a drive for the line. The conversion was missed and the half time score was 5 – 0 to the home team.
From the restart Ventnor were awarded a penalty for Lytchett straying off side and this was converted, increasing their lead to 8 – 0. Lytchett Minster starting to come back into the match in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts with a try on 20 minutes following sustained pressure from their forwards, when inspirational captain Rob Ansell scored from close range. The conversion was missed by stand-off Harry Boulter, but the score had been reduced to 8 – 5.
Ventnor replied immediately with another penalty and Lytchett were still adrift 11 – 5. Despite the score, Lytchett were now on top of the home team and pushing hard for the victory. Persistence paid off when Lytchett Minster scored with only 10 minutes to go, following a Ventnor scrum on the Ventnor line. The Lytchett forwards put the squeeze on and the ball squirted free of the Ventnor No. 8 and blind side flanker Dean Dennett was first to react, diving on the ball to score. This try narrowed the score to 11 – 10, with the conversion to come. Despite being out wide, the whole Lytchett team, including 30 travelling supporters waited with baited breath as Harry Boulter lined up the ball with the posts and kicked a lovely lofted ball, only to be denied by a gust of wind at the last possible moment.
Lytchett continued to attack for the final few minutes and threw caution to the wind, in trying to force the pass, in poor conditions, when they would have been better to go to ground and recycle the ball. This gave Ventnor the chance to score a final breakaway try to seal the match, the final score being 18 – 10.
Although this was Lytchett Minster’s first league loss of the season, it leaves them in a position where to gain promotion every league match most be won from now on. This is an achievable goal, given the harder team in the league will have to travel to the Watery Lane fortress.
Team: Lloyd, Poultney, Deary, Ansell, Cormack, Gardener, Boulter T, Dennett, Bellamy, Boulter H, Welford, Reed, Oliver, Fooks, Ricketts
