Sat 23 Oct 2021
Tottonians II 32 - 13 Isle of Wight
The Islanders travelled over to Totton hoping to end their losing streak but unfortunately were unsuccessful against Tottonians II. The game was a close fought one with IW’s sustained pressure proving impotent and Tottonians taking their chances as they were presented.
Early IW attacking pressure from second row combination of Callum Pudney and co-captain Andrew Brown led to a penalty for prop Ricky Keyes. Then it was Tottonians’ turn for some ball, the kick off and a resulting penalty leading to their powerful pack scoring a converted try from a driving maul. Then, a key turnover by the Tottonians forwards led to a brilliant try by their backs.
The second half saw IW kicking for territory more, the experienced head of co-captain Alex Augustus causing issues for Totts with his box kicking, whilst the eternally youthful Biffa Man of the Match Stuart Browne organising the back three well and kicking well into the opposition 22 helped to keep pressure on the opposition. This play led to sustained attacks and Luke Blackman scored a try from close distance.
Momentum swung back towards Tottonians though. A penalty led to a try from another powerful driving maul by the Totts pack. Subsequently, Totts added a penalty from pressure in the Isle of Wight half. IW fought back with a late rally, Luke Blackman again taking advantage from some sustained pressure scoring a try in the corner.
A break from the Totts number 13 from the restart with a scintillating line of running created an individual try for the outstanding three quarter on the park, to finish the game. The Islanders will take some positives from the result into their next match, at home to Southampton Medics at Wootton Rec on Saturday.
IW: S Browne, C Browne, C Ormerod, D Blackman, E Toms, T Marriott, A Augustus, L Blackman, K Wallace, J Webster, A Brown, C Pudney, R Keyes, M Newnham, K Blackburn, I Puzey, D Bishop.
