HURRICANES 52, FAREHAM HEATHENS 0

SANDOWN and Shanklin rounded off 2018 in style by blowing Hampshire Premier rivals Fareham Heathens away in the filthiest weather they have had to play in so far this season.

In conditions that made it difficult to play any fast or free-flowing rugby, the Hurricanes had the advantage of playing the first half down the Fairway Park hill, with the driving rain and high winds behind them.

With the visitors finding it difficult to clear their lines, it did not take long before the Islanders opened their account with a try from centre Sam Tyson, who took a pass and stepped past a defender to score under the posts.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Sandown and Shanklin centre Sam Tyson, who scored the first try against Fareham Heathens on Saturday.  FILE

The Hurricanes cranked up the pressure on the Heathens by winning a succession of penalties, which, after several thwarted touchdown attempts, led to young prop Ben Shannon eventually driving over the line.

The home side continued their early momentum and scored again through centre Jack Wedderkop, who broke through the defensive line and evaded two tackles to dot down under the posts.

Sandown and Shanklin were in the mood to secure the win, with a try bonus point before the half time break and got their fourth try through man-of-the-match Zak Chiverton — the hooker finding a gap through the defence after a superb Tyson pass — to give the Hurricanes a 28-0 half-time lead.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Hurricanes fly-half Cameron Mitchell in action against Fareham Heathens at Fairway Park, Sandown.   Photo: Andrew Cooper

After the break, the conditions deteriorated further, with much of the park waterlogged, making playing conditions more difficult.

But Chiverton got the home side’s scoring again with his second try of the game.

After breaking off the back of an impressive maul, Chiverton stepped around the Heathens defender to dot down.

With the home side earning territorial advantage, the under-pressure Heathens began making mistakes in their own half, which the Hurricanes capitalised on with a strong maul.

A few phases later, the ball found its way to skipper Sam Flux, who went on a mazy run from outside the Heathens 22 to sprint in for his first try of the season, to extend the winning margin to 40 points.

From the restart, Flux made a telling break into the Heathens half and, thanks to some superb distribution by half-backs Jacob Jordan and Cameron Mitchell, the ball found its way to Chiverton, who went in for his hat-trick of tries.

Despite the tricky conditions for kicking, Flux struck six conversions.

After the game, Hurricanes director of rugby, Damion Marriott, said: “What a great way to end 2018! It was definitely not the weather for a good game, but it was the performance we really wanted.

“We wanted to come out all guns firing after last week’s performance — and we did just that.

“The way we moved the ball in horrendous weather shows just how good this young side really is. It’s just a shame we don’t play again until January.”

Sandown and Shanklin head into the festive break lying second in the Hampshire Premier table, with 11 wins out of 12 and just four points adrift of leaders Basingstoke, who have a 100 per cent record.

The Hurricanes’ next fixture will be away at Eastleigh II on Saturday, January 5.

Hurricanes: Shannon, Chiverton, Richomme, Hunter, Flux (capt), Branston, Hopper, Rees, Jordan, Mitchell, Williams, Tyson, Wedderkop, Wetherick, Sanderson. Subs: Seder, Booth, C.Little.