Isle of Wight 47-34 Petersfield II
IW maintained their 100% record with their fourth bonus point win of the season. This was probably their most difficult assignment so far, against a useful visiting side but also in the light of having several players unavailable. As in recent games, IW weathered a sticky patch before a stellar third quarter decided the outcome.
The home side were first to strike in what went on to be a high-scoring affair, working the ball well up the blind-side from inside their own half, before hooker Sam McQueen continued his try-scoring form after last week’s hat-trick. This was shortly cancelled out by Petersfield, who made the most of some sub-standard IW defence to score a converted try of their own.
It was attack all the way in the dry and sunny conditions, both sides looking good with ball in hand but finding it difficult to slow down opposition ball or stop the other side’s dangermen. IW were shortly back in the lead, applying sustained pressure in the ‘Field 22 and moving the ball wide on penalty advantage. Good handling by Luke Blackman and James Webster gave Biffa IW man of the match George Collett possession out wide, and though he had plenty still to do, he finished impressively for a try on his home debut. George Huish drilled the touchline conversion through the uprights to make the score 14-7.
IW were struggling to collect the restarts, playing into the sun, and Petersfield capitalised on this again with a well-worked try to narrow the gap. The seesaw pattern of the half continued as IW again went on the attack, looking certain to score but for captain Luke Blackman to be held up. It did not matter, as IW ran back the goal-line drop-out with interest and forced an attacking position, from which the ball was moved for Aaron Young to time the pass for Huish to score and convert. Petersfield yet again came back to score their third, before David Blackman was surprisingly yellow-carded when adjudged to have collapsed a maul and scrum-half Dave Hanson succumbed to injury. The visitors could hardly believe their luck but made the most of another IW error and touched down for the fourth time on the stroke of half-time, taking a 22-21 lead.
With defensive questions to answer and a man short for the early part of the second half, IW looked in danger of tasting defeat, but their response was to dominate the third quarter and take control of the match, helped by contributions from their bench of George Amer, Finlay Lockhart and debutant Tom Crews. They regained the lead with an effective lineout maul taking them close to the line, before the prolific McQueen plunged over for his second of the day, securing the four-try bonus.
IW’s next try began in similar fashion from a line-out drive, before Luke Blackman caught the ‘Field defence napping and sneaked through for a clever try, IW now leading 33-22. Their scrum was now completely dominant as they won some away put-ins against the head, but it was from their own scrum ball that they scored next. The ball was moved wide to the in-form Huish, who backed his pace to scorch outside the last two men and then crash through the covering tackler. For good measure, he added his second touchline conversion of the day, his fifth in all.
Hard-working flanker James Webster would have deserved a try to cap his display, but was held up over the line. It was one-way traffic at this point, and IW shortly had their seventh and final try. It culminated in slick handling from Young, Webster and Crews, before Joedan man of the match Harri Jones-Evans crossed out wide. However, the referee saw fit to award a penalty try instead, which stretched the IW advantage to 25 points.
The last few minutes were somewhat chaotic as errors from both sides and some questionable option-taking led to loose play, while Ben Sanderson was shown yellow for reasons unclear. The visitors profited from a speculative kick from deep in their own half which bounced kindly and gave them a run-in try. They scored again on the final whistle, as an IW error led to an old-fashioned foot-rush and a try for the mainlanders’ pacey winger.
A much changed IW were pleased with the win and played very well when it mattered most, though defensive improvements will be necessary to keep their run going. They remain in a three-way tie at the top of the league and travel to Lymington Mariners on Saturday.
IW: Huish, Marsh, Jones-Evans, Sanderson, Vickers, Young, Hanson, Collett, McQueen, Thorne, J Bishop, L Blackman, Wynyard-Wright, Webster, D Blackman. Replacements: Amer, Lockhart, Crews.
Thanks to Katharine Overton for the photos!
