RUGBYOld Wimbledonians 16, Sandown and Shanklin 10
AFTER defeating Old Wimbledonians at home earlier in the season, Hurricanes were in confident mood but winning proved a harder task on the road.
The Island side took control of scrummaging and made early breaks, Dan Robinson slicing through the defence to Kern Wales, although he was brought down on the 5m line.
On nine minutes, against the run of play, the hosts kicked a penalty to take the lead.
Most of the play was in the centre of the field with defences working overtime, before Alex Howard kicked Hurricanes’ level from a penalty.
But they were dealt a blow just before the break when the hosts broke away to scored a converted try.
Hurricanes began the second half with renewed vigour, with Wightlink man-of the match Sam Rees replacing Alex Howard, who was on duty with Hampshire on Sunday.
And there was a first team debut for Sam Flux, coming on for Andrew Gough.
The Island side tightened their game but some poor line-out work, many bad decisions and the mounting penalty count let them down. Mat Jones fed Zeta-PDM man of the match Dan Muir on many occasions but the defence held out.
An alleged scrummage infringement, and an offside gave the hosts two penalty kicks, which they converted to make it 16-3.
But Hurricanes were given a boost late on when one of the Old Wimbledonians was sin-binned for repeat offending, and as the Island side pushed for a try, they kept being brought down.
Eventually the side were awarded a penalty try, which Will Baxendall converted. However it was not enough as the hosts held on.
Sandown and Shanklin: Harris, Thomas, Skelley, Hunter, Howard, Tolley, Gough, J. Rees, S. Rees, Booth, Baxandall, Chandler, Jones, Robinson, Muir, Wales, Eldridge, Flux.