Josh Collinson went close for IW.
RUGBY
Chineham II 29, IW II 15
IN THEIR poorest performance of the season, IW II slumped to defeat in Basingstoke in a game they would have hoped to win.
Again, a poor start put the IW behind and though they did mount a comeback, Chineham earned a deserved win.
IW absorbed a lot of pressure in the first 15 minutes, conceding just a penalty goal.
Conditions were wet and muddy, but Chineham were dominating possession and their pressure told when they conceded a try to the Chineham fly-half, soon followed by another, which was converted. For the second game in a row, the Island were down 15 points inside 30 minutes.
Belatedly the IW went to work, forging territory and achieving continuity. They battered the Chineham line with James Curran and Josh Collinson going close, before Paul Carter battered his way over for a try. The game remained scrappy up to half time, but IW were now playing much better, and felt confident trailing 15-5 but with the slope in their favour in the second half.
On the restart, the Island continued their ascendancy and soon had their second try. Good harrying of a home defender saw the ball go loose for Colman Cotter to touch down and narrow the gap.
Conditions and the standard of play deteriorated and there was no further score for a long period of play. IW were now on top in the scrum having struggled initially, but the line-out was the domain of the hosts. Mark Westley and Tom Love were the best forwards for IW, while Andy Brown carried well.
Eventually, Chineham got into the 22 and exploited poor IW tackling to score under the posts.
With seven minutes to go, IW gave themselves a glimmer of hope, turning over ball in the opposition half and moving the ball along the backline well. Reuben Mitchell was stopped short, but possession was recycled and Rouse Ltd man of the match Martin Newnham was able to score.
Yet the hosts had the final say, being first to a grubber kick behind the defence and scoring a converted try to win.
IW: Leahy, Merry, Collinson, Andy Brown, Mitchell, Harley, Cotter, M. Tanner, Love, Newnham, Carter, Appell, Downer, Curran, Westley. Subs: Savill, Lillington, D. Tanner.