Rugby: Isle of Wight put in winning performance despite making eight changes

DESPITE being forced to make eight changes to the team which hammered Romsey the previous week, the Islanders still put in a winning performance at Southampton.

From the start, Isle of Wight made inroads into the home defence and were rewarded with a Lewis Murray penalty early on.

The first scrum resulted in the Island shunting back Southampton’s pack — an area they were to dominate throughout.

Returning a home kick saw the ball offloaded to Sam McQueen, who drove 15 metres to touch down.

Further pressure on the home line allowed James Webster to crash over.

Southampton were not going to lie down and came back at the Islanders, which included a counter-attack from their own 22-metre line.

In the second half, the Island seemed rejuvenated, as debutant and Biffa man-of-the-match Martin Smith released George Huish, who in turn offloaded to fellow debutant, James Reed to score.

Back came Southampton, driving a line to score.

Again, Smith popped up with a basketball-style pass to Jonty Sweetman to score a superb try.

Opting for a five-metre scrum, the ball was then recycled for Grant Smith to dot down.

Now in control, the IW’s Webster broke clear and, with good close support, fed the impressive Andrew Brown to batter through the remaining defence to score.

Back came Southampton with another driving line, before George Huish intercepted to touch down in under the posts.

It was the home side who had the last say as they touched down.

Murray added several conversions.

IW: Sweetman, Reed, Rann, Huish, M.Smith, Murray, Marriott, Brown, Webster, Blackman, Blackburn, G.Smith, Newnham, McQueen, Puzey, Bishop. Subs: Metcalfe.