TWO players badly injured in a match at Ventnor last year, showed their gratitude to the pregnant Isle of Wight woman who cared for them pitch side until their ambulances arrived.

Zoe Jones, of Newport, a former sports therapist at Ventnor RFC, made sure Tottonians II players Harry Morse, who had a neck injury, and Todd Arnison, who suffered a double leg fracture, in their Hampshire 1 match at Ventnor last September, were kept warm, comfortable and stable until paramedics arrived.

Despite being heavily pregnant at the time, Zoe, a well-qualified first aider, stayed with the injured players in the cold until they were taken from Ventnor's Watcombe Bottom ground to St Mary's Hospital, Newport.

Zoe had been treating Harry at the time when Todd suffered his leg break.

With no one at the ground able to treat Todd, Zoe had to straighten his leg and apply traction, such was the extent of the injury.

Both players were taken to hospital in separate ambulances, with Todd the priority.

Isle of Wight County Press: Two ambulances were needed to transport two Tottonians players at a rugby match in Ventnor last September.Two ambulances were needed to transport two Tottonians players at a rugby match in Ventnor last September.

Not only that, Zoe also went out of her way to meet Harry’s father from the Red Jet in Cowes to take him to St Mary's — then almost immediately she was back out to collect Todd’s girlfriend, travelling from Portsmouth, from Ryde Pier to the hospital.

Zoe, married to Ventnor captain, Lewis, was at Tottonians rugby club to watch the two teams play their rearranged reverse fixture yesterday (Saturday), with the home side running out 98-7 winners.

But afterwards, the real spirit of rugby revealed itself when Harry and Todd presented Zoe — who brought along her two-and-a-half week old daughter, Freya — with a bouquet of flowers in gratitude for the care she had shown them at that match last autumn.

Zoe, 38, an office manager at Cheetah Marine, Ventnor, told the County Press: "It was lovely and totally unexpected. I was at the game to watch Lewis and to receive the flowers from Harry on behalf of both was very nice.

"Both players are doing well.

"But the day it all happened was one I'll never forget. Todd's injury was particularly nasty and horrible."