Rugby: Hurricanes win but given stern test

THE Hurricanes came through another big test in the Hampshire Premier with flying colours to maintain their 100 per cent winning start to the season.

The Hurricanes played in similar conditions to those of three weeks ago when they welcomed Eastleigh II to The Fairway — less than ideal for free-flowing rugby — and they did not get off to the best of starts.

Hurricanes captain Sam Flux scores a penalty against Millbrook.  

The Isle of Wight side infringed at the breakdown to give Millbrook a penalty in front of the posts.

The score sparked the home team into life and, from the restart, they earned their first score when prop Darren Carew dotted down in the corner.

Action from the Sandown & Shanklin v Millbrook match.  

As the Hurricanes settled, they stretched Millbrook’s defence, with scrum-half Jacob Jordan and stand in fly-half Sam Tyson controlling play from the half-back positions, which allowed Ben Shannon and Carew to gain valuable momentum and metres.

An overlap out wide and quick hands found winger Josh Wetherick, who scored, with skipper Sam Flux converting to give the Hurricanes a 12-3 lead.

Sandown & Shanklin on the attack against Millbrook.  

With their tails up, the home side hit their stride, with Ben Sanderson a handful for the opposition defence.

After another spell of attacks, the Hurricanes’ third try was scored when quick-thinking Jack Wedderkop scooped the ball up and dived over for his seventh try this season, converted by Flux and the Hurries cruising 19 - 3.

Action between The Hurricanes and Millbrook at The Fairway. Sandown, on Saturday.  

But a string of offences racked up against the Hurricanes culminated in a score just before half time to narrow the margin to 19-10 at the break.

Millbrook started the second half brighter and earned a penalty to cut their arrears to six points.

In a tight second half, a powerful maul set up from a line-out, drove the Hurries into Millbrook’s 22 for the first time and their pressure resulted in a penalty, kicked over by Flux, to extend the winning margin to 22-13.

Sandown & Shanklin on the attack against Millbrook.

In the latter stages, Millbrook threw everything at the hosts and in the final play earned a consolation penalty.

Sandown and Shanklin’s director of rugby, Damion Marriott, reflected positively on the result and performance — but was also honest about some of the side’s shortcomings, particularly in the second half.

“We’re really pleased with the first half. It was a half we dominated,” he said.

Action between The Hurricanes and Millbrook in the Hampshire Premier on Saturday.

“I was especially thrilled with how we played in the first quarter — with superb intensity and with great control from the half-backs.

“Everybody was switched on to our game plan. We deserved to have been far more ahead then we were.

“The second half, however, was in complete stark contrast to the first and, fair play to Millbrook, they came at us for the whole 40 minutes and may feel absolutely gutted they never won.

“Defensively, we were outstanding, especially Harry Hopper and Zak Chiverton, who put their bodies on the line.

“However, silly penalties conceded and back-chat to the referee at important times, cost us points, which put us under massive pressure in moments of the game.

“This could have cost us and the boys understand that. If we have a second half performance like that again, this season, it’s going to cost us dearly.”

Next up for the Hurricanes is the Hampshire Bowl quarter finals against Eastleigh at The Fairway tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

The two sides last met in this competition four years ago, in the semi-final stages, wit Eastleigh winning 12-0.

Hurricanes v Millbrook: Carew, Tyas, Shannon, Flux (capt), Seder, Chiverton, Hopper, Hunter, Jordan, Tyson, Wetherick, Wedderkop, Sanderson, Little, Williams. Subs: Rees, Winter, Perfect.