Hook and Odiham 24-32 IW II
Isle of Wight RFC’s second team travelled to North Hampshire, looking for their first away win of the season. The side was much changed from the previous week with many playing out of position. A fine match proved to be fairly even with strong carrying and tactical kicking proving to be emblematic of the game.
The game kicked off, with initial momentum with IW. Versatile fly-half Luke Blackman crashed over to take advantage of some astute tactical kicking from his team. Then, after the home side opened their account with a penalty, marauding Fountain Inn man of the match Jayme Bishop touched down from close range after some strong forward play. Following this, neat interplay between veteran Adam Groves and the evergreen Stu Browne at the base of the scrum, created an overlap which allowed centre Andrew Brown to barge over from near the halfway line.
IW had played well and led 17-3 at the break, but it had been by no means one-way traffic. Sure enough, the second half saw a resurgence from the home side, with some strong running from the Hook & Odiham centres and back row, solidified by some great kicking from hand by their out half. This would lead to three tries in the second half which put the Islanders under a serious amount of pressure.
However, it was IW who actually scored first in the second period, as a long kickoff led to a turnover in the opposition 22. Driving runs from Dan Bishop, Harry Cameron and Ian Bennett created an opportunity for Blackman to throw a dummy and touch down from 5 yards out. Though the hosts soon scored a seven-pointer, Evan Toms made the most of an overlap from the kick-off, racing in from 40 yards to finish off a well worked team try.
Trailing 29-10, Hook began to force gaps in the IW rearguard and soon were across the line again to narrow the gap to only 12 points. The Island forwards now upped their workrate and this caused the opposition defence to creak. Ricky Keyes continued his fine form this season, winning a penalty from the scrum which he managed to put over the posts for 3 points, adding to two earlier conversions.
Hook & Odiham unquestionably dominated the closing exchanges but determined IW scrambling ensured that their opponents would only add one more score and the visitors would see out the contest. Further positives were the return of Cameron and Groves after early season injuries, and Tom Turtle after a considerably longer absence. Next week the second team are on the road for the third week in a row, at Overton. The first team, who were given a home walkover by Southampton Uni Hospitals, travel to Fawley.
IW: Sice, Rolfe, Vince, Brown, Toms, L Blackman, S Browne, Turtle, Bennett, Keyes, Cameron, J Bishop, A Groves, N Joyce, Dixon, D Bishop, Wynyard-Wright.
