Isle of Wight 31-16 Tottonians II
IW extended their winning run to four with an excellent triumph over second-placed Tottonians at Wootton Rec. This was probably IW’s best overall performance of the season, again defensively solid but notably ambitious in attack and playing some great rugby at times, which was needed to quell a second-half comeback by the visitors.
A rainy week gave way to beautiful sun for the duration of the game, and this aided a fine game with both teams showing willingness to attack with ball in hand from all over the park. Nonetheless, there was a moderate breeze which backed Tottonians in the first half, and their accomplished fly-half used his boot well to keep IW pinned back for most of the opening half-hour. In an echo of last week, IW scrambled to hold up a Totts player over the line early on, and while the mainlanders looked dangerous in attack, IW’s defence bent but didn’t break, Totts settling for two successful penalty kicks in the opening 30 minutes.
On the back of a dominant scrum, IW had their share of possession despite being under pressure, and notably were looking to keep the ball alive to good effect with multiple offloads and support lines from the likes of Cameron Browne and man of the match Ed Lynch helping to retain the ball and test the Totts defence. However, it was from a Totts attack that the opening try was scored, against the run of play. A pass near halfway was intercepted by skipper Luke Blackman, who showed deceptive pace and a fiendish hand-off of the last defender to score a memorable five-pointer, George Huish kicking the conversion to give IW a 7-6 lead.
IW were finishing the half in the ascendancy, helped by a yellow card for a Totts forward for an illegal tackle. Running a penalty from inside the opposition 22, the IW forwards set to work with a series of dynamic carries. The most dynamic of all was the final one, with powerful replacement Joe Bussell surging over the line for an excellent try. IW led 12-6 at half-time.
The home side wanted to make the most of the extra man early in the second half and certainly did just that. Huish’s line kicking went on to be a feature of the second half, initially setting up a lineout inside the Totts 22. The same player took the defence by surprise when collecting the ball near the tail of the lineout and crashing over the final defender for a great score, extending IW’s advantage to 11 points.
Momentum was soon to swing again, with Ben Savill seeing yellow for illegally halting a Totts advance. The visitors too made the most of the extra man with a well-worked converted try on the left wing to get back within a score, and with IW now being regularly penalised, soon added another penalty goal to make the score 17-16, with over 15 minutes still to play.
Importantly, IW’s defence had been resolute despite the game going against them in the half so far, and they wrested back control with some strong physicality and good game management, Aidan Wan playing through the pain barrier in his final game for the club. More of the fluid attacking play of the first half gave IW a penalty ten metres out, and they opted for a scrum. This proved a good choice as a huge eight-man shove brought them close to the line. Totts scrambled to stop Bussell short, but scrum-half David Blackman was able to apply the finishing touch, Huish adding a valuable conversion to push the lead out to eight points.
The hosts had the last word on the scoreboard, a textbook lineout catch and maul ending with Sam McQueen touching down, Huish’s conversion icing the cake further in an excellent win for IW, moving them up to third in the table. With their next two fixtures away, their next challenge is to take this form forward to the mainland, the first opportunity at Aldershot & Fleet on 14 February.
After the match, both clubs teamed up for a raffle to raise money for mental health charity Looseheadz. IW would like to thank man of the match sponsor Joe Landy and match ball sponsor Kieran Leahy.
IW: Young, Jones-Evans, Wan, Sanderson, Browne, Huish, D Blackman, Savill, McQueen, Newnham, Blackburn, D Bishop, Lynch, Webster, L Blackman. Replacements: Bussell, Bennett, Vickers.
