It was a weekend of milestones and valuable learning for Vectis RFC, as the club’s U12s, U12 Girls, U13’s and U14’s took to the field for a series of challenging fixtures, the rest of the club hit the training pitches and were proud to see yet more new talent joining the Vectis family across the age groups.

History Made as Vectis U12 Girls Secure First Away Trip

The standout story of the weekend saw the Vectis RFC U12 Girls travel to Havant RFC for their first-ever away fixture. The milestone occasion was a resounding success, with the squad demonstrating the TREADS values (Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship) that sit at the heart of the sport.

After a nervous start in unfamiliar surroundings, the girls found their rhythm, delivering a performance defined by powerful ball carries and slick passing. The Havant coaching staff were full of praise for the visiting side, noting their exemplary attitude and skill.

Vectis Coach Lewy commented:
"Unbelievable day, the girls were amazing. I will admit I completely underestimated each one of them. I had butterflies to begin with, but they totally fell into their stride—big carries, quality passing, and hard tackles. Unreal."

U12s Face Physical Test at Havant

The Vectis U12s boys also made the trip to Havant, facing a well-organized and physically dominant side. While Havant set a high tempo from the whistle, the Vectis squad showed immense resilience, refusing to let their heads drop despite a decisive scoreline.

The match served as a vital development tool for the young players, highlighting the importance of defensive alignment and decision-making under pressure. The coaching staff noted that the commitment shown until the final whistle provides a strong foundation for future training sessions.

U14’s Battle Romsey at Isle of Wight RFC
Back on home soil, Vectis RFC hosted Romsey RFC at Isle of Wight RFC in a physical encounter. The game featured uncontested scrums—a move that neutralized one of Vectis' traditional strengths and forced a high-octane game of open play.
While Romsey’s physicality at the breakdown proved difficult to overcome in the first half, Vectis rallied after the break. The second half saw a marked improvement in attacking fluidity, with several promising passing sequences stretching the Romsey defence. Though clinical finishing remained elusive, the work rate and second-half resurgence provided plenty of positives for the team to build on.

U13s Charge Into Semi-Finals with Dominant Win
The Vectis U13s secured the result of the weekend, traveling to Basingstoke for the quarter-finals of the Hampshire Bowl Cup. From the opening whistle, Vectis set an aggressive tone, dominating the breakdown and establishing an early lead. By half-time, the Islanders held a commanding 6-1 advantage.

Basingstoke returned for the second half with renewed grit, but Vectis remained composed. Working as a cohesive unit, they controlled the pitch through powerful scrums and fluent passing. The emphatic 14-2 victory secures their place in the semi-finals.

The scoring was shared across the squad, with tries from Tom Saunders, Ed Foster, Wyatt Lee, Luca Endacott, Jay Bexon, Theo Cherry, Finley Stevens, Jasper Branston and Jay Rees and Louie Laidler. The team also extended their gratitude to Luke Goodall of Goodall Roofing for his generous donation of hydration bottles, which were put to good use during the intense fixture.

Join the Vectis Family in 2026!
We want to extend a warm welcome to anyone who would like to give rugby a try in the New Year.
• First two sessions are completely free.
• Keep an eye on our social media for training schedules.
• Turn up, or reach out via social media, email, or the website.
From our youngest players taking their first steps in rugby, to our older age groups giving it their all every weekend – they have all made this year something special.

We’re so proud to be a youth-only club, providing rugby opportunities for young people aged 5–18 here on the Isle of Wight.

[i]About Vectis RFC
Vectis RFC is the only community youth rugby club on the Isle of Wight, providing coaching and competition for players from U6 through to Colts. We are dedicated to fostering a love for rugby, teamwork, and sportsmanship in a safe and supportive environment. We pride ourselves on developing the next generation of rugby talent and supporting the 3 mighty Island Senior Clubs Isle of Wight RFC, Ventnor RFC and Sandown & Shanklin RFC.
• Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/vectis2
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/VectisRFC