VENTNOR did not get the new rugby season off to the most auspicious of starts, but they and fellow Island clubs, Sandown and Shanklin and Isle of Wight, are positive of a good season ahead.

Although the Watcombe Bottom outfit were comprehensively beaten, 59-0, at home to Havant III in the new Counties 3 Hampshire division on Saturday, under new head coach, Jason Evans, and his team of Fergus Kenny and Clive Cardwell-Hill, the club says it is “entering the season with confidence and enthusiasm”. 

The club boasts several new young signings, with second team skipper, James Blake, welcoming back some old faces. 

Lewis Jones, who continues as first team captain, said: “We are looking forward to the new campaign.  

“Our training numbers have been good throughout the pre-season and there is a real togetherness within the club that promises good times ahead.”

Ventnor did well to get their game played on Saturday, amid concerns from the RFU that drought-hardened pitches would cause injuries, which led to an advisory from the national rugby body to postpone early season fixtures.

One thing the drought has caused is a hampering of pre-season preparation.
The Wootton-based IW club, also playing in Counties 3 — following the RFU’s latest league restructuring exercise — have their opening game of the season tomorrow (Saturday) away at Havant III, hoping they will fare much better than Ventnor did.

Isle of Wight RFU secretary, Kieran Leahy, said: “Like most other clubs, our preparation has been more difficult than usual due to drought and hard ground conditions. 

“However, the lads are now getting in some good contact work in advance of our opener at Havant. 

“Since last season, we’ve only lost one first team player, so we hope to pick up where we left off in the previous campaign, with Luke Blackman joining Andrew Brown as co-captain. 

“After the Havant game, we have five matches in a row at home, which may help us gain momentum.”

Brown added: “We have recruited a few new players, but more are always welcome. 

“Having finished sixth in each of the last three seasons in Hampshire One, we are looking to finish higher this season.”

Shanklin and Sandown club begin life in the new Hampshire Counties 2 with a home game against New Milton at Fairway Park.

Looking ahead to the new campaign, experienced first team player and former skipper, Sam Flux, said: “It all looks quite promising. We’ve signed some new players from other teams.

“We fancy our chances in this division. With two decent squads, we should do well in both leagues.”

The new first team captain will  be Zak Chiverton, with Michael Cooper at the helm for the seconds, who play in Counties 4 Hampshire.

Under head coach, Damien Marriott, the club has brought in two new coaches to help spread the workload.

                                   TOMORROW'S FIXTURES (SATURDAY)

Counties 2 Hampshire — Sandown & Shanklin v New Milton; Counties 3 Hampshire — Overton v Ventnor; Havant III v Isle of Wight; Counties 4 Hampshire — Hook & Odiham v Sandown & Shanklin II.

                                           SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Counties 2 Hampshire — Millbrook v Sandown & Shanklin; Counties 3 Hampshire — Isle of Wight v Overton; Ventnor v Portsmouth II; Counties 4 Hampshire — Sandown & Shanklin II v Christchurch; Counties 5 Hampshire South West — Fordingbridge II v Ventnor II; Counties 5 Hampshire South East — Isle of Wight II v Portsmouth III.