RUGBYWeybridge Vandals 15, Sandown and Shanklin 23
GAVIN Bodrell made a perfect debut for Sandown and Shanklin, as they maintained top spot in London South West 3 with a good win at Weybridge Vandals.
On a heavy pitch following the rain throughout the week, and against a larger Weybridge pack, the Sandown scrum started well with the returning Chris Skelley adding power to the front row.
Meanwhile, Bodrell’s fine performance on his first league start earned him the Wightlink man of the match prize. He kicked the first points of the game, and later converted a penalty scored by Ben Allman to give the Island side a 10-3 lead.
Weybridge continued to give away penalties for offside at ruck and their back line was finally punished with another converted penalty by Bodrell.
With ten minutes remaining in the first half Weybridge had a concerted attack from big runners feeding directly from the scrum half and from one of the rucks, Sandown were penalised for coming off their feet. As players regained their feet the scrum half took a quick penalty and with only 15m to the line went over for the try untouched.
The conversion was successful and the first half ended 13-10 to Hurricanes.
The second half began with the home side facing into a difficult low sun and kicks forward by Bodrell and Kern Wales pinned Weybridge in their half for long periods.
The pressure eventually told as, from a ruck, Dove fed the backs with Wales scoring in the corner to extend the lead to 18-10.
Some good play by Hurricanes saw Luke Hunter finish a fine move after several rucks, only for him to drop the ball over the line.
Following the disallowed try, Sandown maintained the pressure rarely leaving the home side’s half and concentrated pressure stretched the Weybridge defence.
A play of some ten phases linked together by charges up field by Vikoma man of the match Joe Rees eventually setting up Dan Muir to race over in the corner.
Weybridge provided a light scare towards the end with an unconverted try but by then, the game was won.
Sandown and Shanklin: Harris, Allman, Skelly, S. Rees, Hunter, Bagnall, Gough, J. Rees, Dove, Bodrell, Muir, Robinson, Keyworth, Chandler, Wales. Subs: Morris, Thomas, Kulik.