Isle of Wight 17-10 Aldershot & Fleet
IW had to dig deep but came away with the points against visitors Aldershot & Fleet (AF) at Wootton Rec. Even with a long injury list, the Islanders started the game as strong favourites given the respective clubs’ league positions. However, AF were much more accomplished than their bottom half status might suggest and looked the likelier winners for long stretches of an entertaining fixture.
A couple of days of heavy rain gave way to sunshine and a strong crossfield wind at kickoff. The wet pitch made it difficult for the players to execute their game plan, especially in a first half high on endeavour but lower on quality. The mainlanders got off to a dream start and scored first on 7 minutes, taking advantage of IW failure to secure loose ball and winning a close range penalty, from which they battered their way across the whitewash.
Biffa man of the match Dave Hanson cajoled his pack and IW began to gain their share of territory, but they were met with determined defence and were repeatedly penalised at the breakdown. They were also unusually under pressure in the scrum and the big AF pack appeared to have their tails up, while IW were a little flat and error-prone. It took until the final play of the half before they levelled the scores, as dents were made in the tight before Luke Blackman bulldozed in for the try. The score at the break was 5-5.
Strong words at half-time did not have an immediate effect, as AF were back on top and regained the lead nine minutes after the resumption, exploiting static home defence. However, this score seemed to be the catalyst for an IW revival. Their best rugby would be played in the remainder of the game, though they had to work hard for everything against their committed opposition.
A thrilling break by Blackman supported by James Webster was another key moment as it preceded some fine rugby by the hosts, with Island Healthcare man of the match Dan Ward impressing at fullback. It was talismanic no. 8 Blackman who applied the finish to IW’s second try in the corner after some scintillating team play, levelling the scores again at 10-10.
IW now mostly stabilised their scrum and upped the pace when they could, against the tiring visitors. A draw appeared a likely outcome as the minutes ticked away, but telling carries by Dan Bishop and Sam McQueen brought the Islanders up to the try-line, before young second-row Brad Martin plunged over for the winning score. Ward drilled the conversion through the posts, but there were still ten minutes of injury time to be played. A bonus point for a fourth try was on the horizon but did not materialise, and AF left with a losing bonus, the least their performance merited. IW struggled for much of the game but showed fortitude and togetherness to grind out the victory.
IW remain third in the table and their last league match of 2023 is at Ventnor on Saturday at 2 pm, with the club’s second teams also opposing at midday.
IW: Ward, Rolfe, Jones-Evans, McQueen, C Browne, le Grange, Hanson, Newnham, Butler, Keyes, B Martin, D Bishop, J Bishop, Webster, Blackman. Replacements: S Browne, Wallace, Wynyard-Wright.
