Southampton Twos somehow managed to rustle up a full fifteen after looking like they might be making the trip to the island with only ten players for much of the week. It did mean a number of players lined up out of position, with Steve Munter trying his luck at full back and Nick Cazeaux keen to show his pace and sidestep on the wing. Wyverns Luis Wallace and Tim McFarlane came in at fly half and flanker whilst Lachlan Fasher was rewarded for crawling out of his sick bed with the chance to play number eight.

Ventnor opened the scoring after moving the ball out through the backs, with their outside centre stepping the defence to open the scoring. Southampton hit back soon after when a penalty gave the chance for Paul Rutherford to kick to the corner. A catch and drive from the line out took them close to the line, before Lachlan Fasher peeled off to power over.

The first half was fiercely contested, with Southampton threatening but unable to convert pressure into points. Wily John Redell was keen to make his presence felt, wiping out a Ventnor jumper in the line out and powering through a bridging attacker at a ruck, but it was Ventnor who ran in three more tries for a 20-5 lead, but the game felt as if it was still very much in the balance.

A fast start to the second half from Ventnor saw them rack up three quick tries and effectively took the game away from Southampton, with their replacement scrum half having a big impact and finding gaps around the breakdown.

But Southampton's heads didn't drop and they continued to press forward. Lachlan Fasher grabbed his second try with another powerful solo run before Southampton's third try, which was an impressive team effort. The ball went out to the backs with Dave Ward offloading in the tackle to Steve Munter, who skilfully picked up a difficult ball. He was tackled but the ball was recycled and moved to the right, with Luis Wallace, Ian Budd and Adam Harrington all drawing their defenders and passing before Dave Ward popped up again to dive over and cap off an excellent team move. Ward converted his own try from wide on the right.

Ventnor were comfortable winners in the end, running out 62-17 victors. But despite the scoreline this was a game played in exactly the right spirit, with the opposition captain and ref all full of praise for the efforts of the Southampton lads.

It's a double header next week for Southampton with the Firsts travelling to Fareham Heathens and the Seconds at home to top of the table New Milton 2s.