Rob Snell has led Ventnor to past two wins [Dave Reynolds]
Ventnor’s long wait for a Southern Premier League victory on mainland soil, stretching back to late August 2018, is over.
Two months or so shy of three years since they won at Liphook & Ripsley, Ventnor toasted a handsome 133 run Division 2 victory at Paultons – and how they celebrated, with popular island guitarist Rob Snell and Fiona leading the team in song and dance on the car ferry’s upper deck on the way home.
Barbados left-hander Anthony Alleyne naturally joined in, playing a Captain Tobias Wilcox of 1975 Coconut Airways role fame as the lyrics of ‘Barbados Sky’ filled the clear blue sky above Southampton Water.
It was appropriate that Snell should take the lead as he’s been in good nick in the past fortnight, hitting an unbeaten 76 in the Steephill win over Hartley Wintney and 68 to secure a decent 210-8 score at Paultons.
Ventnor lost Ross Whyte – bowled by new signing Darryn Stares (from Havant), one of four 16-year olds in the Paultons camp – early on, but Snell curbed his natural attacking instincts to help Alleyne (40) provide the islanders with a decent base.
Snell took Ventnor to 144 before handing the baton to Martin Blackman (40) and Charlie Calloway to hit a quick fire 23 not out and steer the visitors into a winning position.
Paultons skipper Simon Ennew was delighted with the debut bowling performances of Stares and Liam Longland, who has switched with father Paul from OTs & Romsey and who had Snell stumped.
“Darryn and Liam were brilliant on debut, unfortunately the batters let them down after a superb bowling performance. The least said about our batting the better,” Ennew reflected.
Calloway, with an SPL best 4-12 and Snell (2-12), sent Paultons crashing to 25-6 before Longland (26) underlined his batting potential as the hosts lurched to 50-8 before a last wicket stand of 27 left them with a slightly better 77.
A third win in five five has lifted Ventnor to seventh place, but Paultons have dropped to third from bottom ahead of Saturday's visit to winless Bashley (Rydal) II.
Footnote: Ventnor actually ended the 2018 season with three successive mainland wins, those at Andover and Hook & Newnham Basics preceding the victory at Liphook.
Two months or so shy of three years since they won at Liphook & Ripsley, Ventnor toasted a handsome 133 run Division 2 victory at Paultons – and how they celebrated, with popular island guitarist Rob Snell and Fiona leading the team in song and dance on the car ferry’s upper deck on the way home.
Barbados left-hander Anthony Alleyne naturally joined in, playing a Captain Tobias Wilcox of 1975 Coconut Airways role fame as the lyrics of ‘Barbados Sky’ filled the clear blue sky above Southampton Water.
It was appropriate that Snell should take the lead as he’s been in good nick in the past fortnight, hitting an unbeaten 76 in the Steephill win over Hartley Wintney and 68 to secure a decent 210-8 score at Paultons.
Ventnor lost Ross Whyte – bowled by new signing Darryn Stares (from Havant), one of four 16-year olds in the Paultons camp – early on, but Snell curbed his natural attacking instincts to help Alleyne (40) provide the islanders with a decent base.
Snell took Ventnor to 144 before handing the baton to Martin Blackman (40) and Charlie Calloway to hit a quick fire 23 not out and steer the visitors into a winning position.
Paultons skipper Simon Ennew was delighted with the debut bowling performances of Stares and Liam Longland, who has switched with father Paul from OTs & Romsey and who had Snell stumped.
“Darryn and Liam were brilliant on debut, unfortunately the batters let them down after a superb bowling performance. The least said about our batting the better,” Ennew reflected.
Calloway, with an SPL best 4-12 and Snell (2-12), sent Paultons crashing to 25-6 before Longland (26) underlined his batting potential as the hosts lurched to 50-8 before a last wicket stand of 27 left them with a slightly better 77.
A third win in five five has lifted Ventnor to seventh place, but Paultons have dropped to third from bottom ahead of Saturday's visit to winless Bashley (Rydal) II.
Footnote: Ventnor actually ended the 2018 season with three successive mainland wins, those at Andover and Hook & Newnham Basics preceding the victory at Liphook.
