RUGBYOld Paulines 6, Sandown and Shanklin 29
HURRICANES confirmed their survival in London South West 3 after a comprehensive win away at Old Paulines.
After last weekend’s two games, the Island side was left with several injuries, including captain Joe Rees, who missed his first game of the season.
With all three Hurricanes teams playing this Saturday, a bare minimum 15 travelled for the match, with many having to play out of position.
But they began brightly, with captain Sam Rees and Wightlink man of the match Luke Hunter stealing host ball at the line out. They broke the deadlock after just nine minutes, Will Baxandall touching down under the posts for a try which he converted himself.
After Old Paulines kicked a penalty for offside, Hurricanes pulled away again, courtesy of winger and Vikoma man of the match Luke Chandler, who scored a try converted by Baxandall.
Another penalty for Paulines kept them in touch for a while but winger Dan Muir ran in an unconverted try to give his side a 19-6 half-time lead.
On the turnaround, Hurricanes piled on the pressure, with Paulines unable to break into the Hurricanes’ 22.
In separate attacks, both Chandler and Hunter were judged to have been held up as they crashed over for tries, while Chris Skelley barged through five defenders for a touch down but was judged offside.
Baxandall added a penalty and, after yet another try effort went begging, Hurricanes made the game totally safe when Hunter drove over, his try converted.
Sandown and Shanklin: Harris, Allman, Skelley, Hunter, Rees, Gough, Tolley, Carey, Thomas, Baxandall, Chandler, Jones, Edmunds, Muir, Wales, Faulk.