VENTNOR gave their fans a dominant display to defeat a tough Christchurch side at Watcombe Bottom on Saturday.

VENTNOR 36, CHRISTCHURCH 3

Despite the absence of several first-team regulars, Ventnor set a strong foundation with Lewis Jones, skipper Ben Savill, Layton Greatorex and Dan Lythgoe consistently breaking down the mainlanders' defence.

This allowed Max Wheeler to control the game from fly-half, launching his hard-running three-quarters into action.

The game did not start as planned for Ventnor, when Nathan Frampton was yellow-carded in the second minute for an illegal early tackle.

Christchurch seized the opportunity, putting Ventnor under pressure and taking the lead with a penalty.

However, these were the final points they would trouble the scorer with.

The Ventnor defence, led by Lewis Howard, Tom Crews, Joe Coghlan and Ben Souter, proved impenetrable.

Fred Fairman was instrumental in turning loose balls into attacking opportunities — and provided a target for the support of Louis Wyatt, George Collett and Andy Teague.

Ventnor’s first try was the result of hard running from Jones, which set up a series of rucks on the Christchurch line, creating space for Wheeler to crash over.

Despite letting Christchurch off the hook with a number of penalties, Ventnor found themselves ten points clear when Ed Blake found space on the right and swept through the opposition to touch down.

The half finished with a classic line-out move, with Coghlan taking the ball high, providing time for Jones to barrel over, to bring the half-time score to 15-3.

Blake repeated his first-half effort at the start of the second half, finding his way to the line, despite being apparently stopped more than once.

Wheeler slotted over the conversion.

Ventnor, full of confidence and the bit between their teeth, were now dominating in all areas, with Collett, Jones and Lythgoe seeing off their heavier props in the set piece.

Jake Babington came on for the excellent Fairman, and the rangy full-back then soon got himself on the score sheet with a try.

Wheeler again converted from some distance out.

The final play of the game saw Greatorex, impressive in his first game in the back row, score with a powerful charge up the middle.

Crews concluded the match with a drop-kicked conversion, as the whistle went for full time.