Time For Layt The Great? Ventnor 1st XV Held To Home Draw By 13-Man Overton

Ventnor RFC's First XV managed to halt a seven match losing streak, but were unable to secure home victory against a side who fielded two fewer players at the weekend.

Depleted Overton rocked up to Watcombe Bottom with only 13 players, taking a shock lead with the only try of the first half.

Home skipper Ben Savill rallied his troops, but the closest they got to troubling the scorers in the opening 40 minutes was Cory Taylor's chip and catch which came to nothing.

The idea dripped with ingenuity, the execution... Not so much. But full credit to Taylor, who was the most clear-minded of the Ventnor players.

The break saw the Islanders make changes, bringing the fresh legs of Callum Martin and Allan Bridges into the fray. 

Those changes led to an industrious start to the second half for Ventnor, which saw Joel Cocks make a break and Will Harrison set up a ruck from which Ben Souter put Guy Entwistle in for a try.

Cooper converted and Ventnor were in the lead.

Inexplicably, the Islanders’ advantage barely lasted as a hopeful Overton punt evaded everyone and bounced to within five metres of the corner flag.

Ventnor subsequently made a mess of the clearance and — despite their numerical disadvantage — the mainland side found space wide on the left for their winger to touch down.

The conversion of this try was remarkable considering the position and conditions, and meant that Overton were back in the lead.

Ventnor did manage to spare their blushes somewhat, as Richardson touched down to level, although Cooper missed the conversion attempt to ensure the game ran out with the score tied at 12 - 12.

A small pocket of supporters appeared to be chanting 'Layt the Great' (it was hard to fully make out the words on the wind), with increasing ferocity during each snuffed out attack — the calls for the club's great young hope, Layton Greatorex, now becoming undeniable shouts from the terraces.

Until 'Wunderkind' is named in the starting XV, this unenviable sequence of results seems set to continue.

Team:  Collett, Harrison, Lythgoe, Teague, Richardson, Savill (capt), Coghlan, L.Morton, Souter, Cooper, Turner, Entwistle, Cocks, Gray, Butler. Subs: Martin, Bridges
Ventnor Man of the Match: George Collett — Head and shoulders above his teammates on the day.

Next fixtures (Saturday December 16):

Ventnor 2nd XV Vs Isle of Wight 2nd XV, 12pm.
Ventnor 1st XV Vs Isle of Wight 1st XV, 2pm..