Sat 9 Mar 2024
Alresford 21-38 Isle of Wight
After a three week layoff due to weather-related cancellations, IW returned to action with a six-try victory at bottom side Alresford. This match itself had been postponed twice before, and though numerous players were unavailable due to the rescheduling, IW were able to secure maximum points.
Alresford at times played much better than their lowly league position, but IW were generally in control after an end-to-end opening exchange. Captain Luke Blackman made good ground from a quick tap penalty, before offloading to supporting winger Nathan Rolfe, who scored in the corner after 12 minutes. Blackman’s exceptional try-scoring rate had slowed a little in recent matches, but this was soon about to change, as he crashed over out wide on 20 minutes. George Huish converted brilliantly, and IW had a 12 point lead.
General play was quite even after this for the remainder of the half, with neither side able to access the opposing 22. It was almost half-time before IW got their third score, a Huish break forcing a penalty in an advantageous spot. The ensuing lineout saw a well set up maul, for Blackman to plunge over and give his team a 17-0 lead at the half.
The second half was eventful and often ill-tempered, with a few scuffles breaking out as Alresford battled back. Kevin Blackburn had departed the fray injured before half-time, and now Dan Ward was forced to join him after colliding with the goalpost when trying to avert a home try. Ricky Keyes was also soon forced off through injury, but not before Dan Bishop had blasted through for the bonus point try after 46 minutes, IW now 24-7 ahead.
There followed a spell of Alresford pressure, repelled by a committed IW defensive effort. With the siege lifted, a weaving run by Blackman completed his hat-trick on 66 minutes, effectively ensuring the outcome. Another promising position soon after led to IW turning the ball over, Alresford winning the kick chase for their second try. The outstanding Red Funnel man of the match Blackman had the answer to this with his fourth try before having to go off hurt, IW running out of replacements and finishing with 14 players. Huish converted with his fourth successful kick. Alresford kept going to the final whistle and scored a good try with two minutes remaining, but IW had a 17 point buffer and could celebrate victory, albeit at a cost with a growing injury list.
IW close to within a point of third-placed Overton with a game in hand, and next host league leaders Havant III at Wootton Rec on Saturday.
IW: Ward, Rolfe, Jones-Evans, Huish, C Browne, Young, S Browne, Newnham, Butler, Keyes, B Martin, Blackburn, D Bishop, A Martin, Blackman ©. Replacements: J Bishop, Wynyard-Wright, Wallace.
Please enter your page detail here. This can be HTML or text. To edit click the first menu icon on the small HTML menu that appears when you click on this text. Please use the elements on the right if you wish to construct a richer page content with headers, images and layout grids.
