OVERTON 10, ISLE OF WIGHT 13

DESPITE the team’s late arrival in Whitchurch for their match at Overton, due to bad weather making travel difficult, the Isle of Wight got into their stride quickly against a side three places above them in Hampshire 1.

With a start in the back row, Luke Blackman showed his promise with an early turnover.

But it was the home side who struck first with a try.

However, back came Isle of Wight with some good, sustained pressure, which resulted in Luke Blackman rewarded for his earlier play, with a try, to level the scores.

With the heavy pitch and poor weather conditions making the game difficult for both sides, Overton scored again to take a 10-5 lead into the half-time break.

The Islanders got their game going in the second half — maintaining their domination in attack, with forwards Ian Puzey, Andi Raunigger, Andy Brown and Biffa man-of-the-match, Grant Smith, all stepping up to the plate.

Thanks to a fine Chris Ormerod try, the sides were brought level at 10-10.

With time fast running out and a draw looking to be the likely result, Lewis Murray stepped up to strike the winning penalty with four minutes remaining,

It was a good, battling team performance for improving Isle of Wight, with some notable individual performances, which included that of Rouse Ltd man-of-the-day Owain Hooper, who made his first team debut off the bench.

On Saturday, the Islanders entertain Alton at Wootton Recreation Ground, their final game before the Christmas break.

Isle of Wight: Grant, M.Smith, Rann, Murray, Ormerod, Warvill, Marriott, Brown, D.Blackman, L.Blackman, Raunigger, G.Smith, Newnham, McQueen, Puzey. Subs: Blackburn, Jones, Hooper.