IW 24-14 Winchester II
Isle of Wight continued their 100% start to the season and maintained their unbeaten home run in 2022 with a hard earned victory over Winchester’s second team.
The form guide suggested this would be a close affair and so it proved, with little between the sides at any point in proceedings. IW were on the scoreboard in the first five minutes courtesy of a George Huish penalty, but would then spend 20 minutes in their own half defending, as Winch monopolised possession. Crucially, the home defence held during this period, with impressive tackling and organisation in evidence from the likes of James Webster and Harri Jones-Evans. Winchester did cross the line once but were held up by last-ditch defending. Finally the siege was lifted, IW having the better of the scrums and stringing together phases, which yielded penalty opportunities. Biffa man of the match Huish converted these, the second a fine kick of close to 50 metres, and IW led 9-0 at the break.
Winchester paraded a young and energetic side and kept coming at IW after the restart, this time being rewarded with a converted try to narrow the gap. Where the game had been stop-start in the second quarter, the ball was now in play a lot more, and it was IW’s turn to stress the Winch defence. Moving play from one side to another, the mainlanders ran out of defenders and second row Aidan Martin crashed over out wide, giving IW a 14-7 lead.
Back came the visitors, levelling the scores with a length of the field run-in and conversion. The spoils were now up for grabs, but IW responded to the pressure and the backing of their support. Reintroducing Fountain Inn man of the match Ricky Keyes proved a shrewd move, as he helped the IW pack to splinter their opposition in the scrum numerous times in the closing quarter, another Huish penalty edging the homesters in front. With Winch now confined to their own 22, IW turned the screw. Captain Luke Blackman had been shackled well for the most part, but when he received possession a few yards out, there was only ever likely to be one outcome and he barged over, Huish’s conversion sealing the deal.
IW were very pleased with this win on a day when they did not play their best rugby but showed character and teamwork in spades to get the job done against useful opposition. They host Andover II at Wootton Rec on Saturday at 3 pm, with the chance to go second in the league with a win. Meanwhile, the second team travel to Chichester III.
IW: Ward, Rolfe, Jones-Evans, Waterer, C Browne, Huish, Augustus, Newnham, McQueen, Keyes, Martin, Pudney, Bennett, Webster, Blackman. Replacements: Lynch, Blackburn, Wallace.
