Fareham Heathens 17-12 Isle of Wight
IW suffered a heartbreaking last-minute defeat at Fareham after a knife-edge tussle. The Islanders travelled over to Fareham with significant changes due to unavailability and injuries and were forced into a major realignment with many second team regulars getting the call up. This led to player-coach Keith Wallace and captain Andrew Brown taking up unaccustomed positions at fly half and inside centre respectively. Also encouragingly the game saw the first team debut of Aaron Young at full back, who went on to perform with distinction.
IW started strongly against Fareham with excellent work in the scrum and lineout. However, their injury list grew further as starting hooker Tom Turtle was forced off after six minutes with a knock to the head. Subsequently a great attacking kick from Fareham allowed their captain to burst over the line. A series of penalties conceded around the ruck led to another Heathens try shortly before halftime, giving the home side a 10-0 advantage.
Momentum changed after half time with some strong carries from Brown, Kev Blackburn and Ricky Keyes. Driving into the opposition 22 and putting sustained pressure on the line, IW were rewarded as No8 Aiden Martin appeared at the bottom of the ruck clutching the ball and awarded the try. The conversion was missed, but the Islanders were well and truly back in the game.
With persistent dominance from the set piece, the IW pack provided a platform for Biffa man of the match Keith Wallace to carry well from stand off, including managing to break 3 tackles and score from 15 yards. Ricky Keyes converted and IW led 12-10 with just under 15 minutes remaining.
This led to a tense closing spell, and in common with the end of the first half, IW could do little right in the eyes of the man in the middle, being repeatedly penalised and finding themselves defending their own line. The last minute try from Heathens seemed inevitable and while the home side were jubilant, the deflated Islanders had only a losing bonus point to show for their brave effort in adversity.
IW travel to Havant III on Saturday next, while the second team are scheduled to entertain Locks Heath Pumas II.
IW: A Young, J Wynyard-Wright, H Jones-Evans, A Brown, N Rolfe, K Wallace, S Browne, A Martin, J Webster, I Puzey, K Blackburn, A Groves, R Keyes, T Turtle, M Newnham, J Bishop, N Joyce, K Davey.
