Charlie Sutton kicked half of Sandown’s points. Picture by Robin Crossley.
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Sandown and Shanklin 10, Old Mid-Whitgiftians 27
IN A biting Arctic wind, Hurricanes were caught cold by the Old Mid-Whitgiftians, whose first-half dominance earned them all the points in this London South West 3 match on Saturday.
The match had been billed as being potentially very close, with Hurricanes currently lying fourth, with several games in hand over the second-placed Old Mid-Whitgiftians.
However, from the first kick, the mainland side looked ready for business and set about crushing the home side with real speed on the break.
By keeping the ball in play and dominating the maul, the Hurricanes’ powerful weapon — their pack — were unable to secure enough ball to feed through to the back line, so running chances were few and far between.
Old Mid-Whitgiftians scored their first try, through their lightning-quick winger, in just the second minute, although his effort went unconverted for a 5-0 lead.
Hurricanes were struggling to contain the nippy Old Mid-Whitgiftian back line, and soon after they scored a penalty to make it 8-0, they scored another try, close in after a penalty.
By this stage, Hurricanes were just trying to stem the flow but the points just kept on coming for the visitors, who made it 20-0 with a converted try after 23 minutes, scored from a push over.
This was followed by a lull in the scoring for Old Mid-Whitgiftians, and Hurricanes tried to pounce on the opportunity to get some points on the board. There followed a series of line-outs on the visitors’ 22, but Sandown and Shanklin could only get as close as the ten-metre line, before the mainland side had cleared it.
And it was a sickening blow when, after all their efforts and on the stroke of half time, Old Mid-Whitgiftians broke through, pounced on a mis-placed clearance kick from Charlie Sutton to force a line-out on the Hurricanes’ 22, and drove over their third try of the match.It was converted to make it 27-0 going into the second half.
Hurricanes started the second half brilliantly, attacking the game with renewed vigour and piliing on the pressure. And this paid off when they were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts, Sutton converting to get the Island side on the board.
Shortly after, Hurricanes secured rare turnover ball and made the most of it, Vikoma man of the match Luke Chandler running from his own ten-metre line to break away and score under the posts for a converted try.
However, with the momentum firmly with the Islanders, they failed to take advantage and slowly but surely, Old Mid-Whitgiftians began to take control once more.
The score would have been bigger, had the mainland side not missed three penalty kicks later in the half, all on the left-hand side of the Hurricanes’ 22.
Hurricanes have to pick themselves up quickly if they are to maintain their challenge for promotion.
Wightlink man of the match was Ricky Harris.
Sandown and Shanklin: Harris, Thomas, Skelley, Hunter, S. Rees, Tolley, Gough, J. Rees, Booth, Sutton, Chandler, Jones, Robinson, Muir, Wales. Subs: Eldridge, Baxendall, Edmunds, Howard.
• Pictures from our online gallery www.iwcpgallery.co.uk below.
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Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk