By Press Release
By Richard Priest
The Island’s three rugby clubs (Isle of Wight, Sandown & Shanklin Hurricanes and Ventnor) came together for the John Adams Memorial Match – commemorating the life of a stalwart of Ventnor and a champion of rugby who died in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
With proceeds from the event going to the Mountbatten Hospice, friends and family enjoyed an afternoon of rugby anecdotes and a match in which the Island Barbarians (comprising Hurricane and IW players) outscored Ventnor 21-14.
Michael Cooper’s Hurricanes with IW Barbarians were soon on top with the midfield controlling the early stages, scoring three converted tries before half-time through Rob Newton, Gary Warvill and Harry Epsom with conversions for Gary Warvill. But it all turned round in the second half when Ventnor came back strongly with tries from James Green and Fred Fairman who played well at hooker.
There were guest appearances from George Creighton and Ben Cooper from Ventnor Football Club and the remarkable sight of Nigel Malkin swapping his referee’s whistle for the hooker’s shirt whilst a bemused Fergus Kenny took over the officiating!
The match was played in a spirit that John Adams would have commended, and Mountbatten Hospice benefitted from the generosity of all involved at a packed Watcombe Bottom.
Header image : Mountbatten fundraisers at Ventnor Rugby Club