Stuart Robertson hits a four during his match winning knock [Dave Reynolds]
Ryde are on course to become the inaugural All Wight League champions after beating Ventnor – but, as the two-wicket margin of their victory suggests, it was a close run affair.
In fact, they owed everything to their captain Stuart Robertson, whose unbeaten 43 dragged Ryde across the line chasing Ventnor’s 121 all out. Ryde were 22-4 (George Willis 1-14) when he arrived at the crease and in deeper trouble at 39-5 not long after.
But his patient knock, aid by several boundary hits by team-mates down the order, clawed Ryde closer to the target. His 20-odd run partnerships with Ollie and Tom Morgan were significant after Freddie Gurney (3-14) had made inroads for Ventnor. Even then, there was work to do as Ben Gregory and Sam Rockley gave support.
Earlier, Ventnor appeared comfortably placed at 63-2 (Martin Blackman 27), but lost wickets at regular intervals to Gregory (3-25), Robertson (2-27), Ollie Morgan (2-37) and Rockley (2-3).
The other two All Wight League fixtures between Newport and St Helen’s and Northwood v Shanklin & Godshill were washed out.
Saturday’s fixtures (1.30): Northwood v Ryde, St Helen’s v Shanklin & Godshill, Ventnor v Newport.
In fact, they owed everything to their captain Stuart Robertson, whose unbeaten 43 dragged Ryde across the line chasing Ventnor’s 121 all out. Ryde were 22-4 (George Willis 1-14) when he arrived at the crease and in deeper trouble at 39-5 not long after.
But his patient knock, aid by several boundary hits by team-mates down the order, clawed Ryde closer to the target. His 20-odd run partnerships with Ollie and Tom Morgan were significant after Freddie Gurney (3-14) had made inroads for Ventnor. Even then, there was work to do as Ben Gregory and Sam Rockley gave support.
Earlier, Ventnor appeared comfortably placed at 63-2 (Martin Blackman 27), but lost wickets at regular intervals to Gregory (3-25), Robertson (2-27), Ollie Morgan (2-37) and Rockley (2-3).
The other two All Wight League fixtures between Newport and St Helen’s and Northwood v Shanklin & Godshill were washed out.
Saturday’s fixtures (1.30): Northwood v Ryde, St Helen’s v Shanklin & Godshill, Ventnor v Newport.
Ventnor celebrate as Ryde's Ben Gregory is trapped leg before by Freddie Gurney at 105-8. [Dave Reynolds]
 Ryde's Mark Oatley is bowled by Ventnor skipper Ross Whyte. |  Freddie Gurney, who took 3-14 for Ventnor. |
