Southampton University Hospitals 30 vs Isle of Wight 17
Off the back of some recent strong home form, Isle of Wight found themselves making the short trip over the water to face a little known entity in Southampton University Medics. A strong start for the away side with dominant carries quickly provided opportunity in the 22, resulting in the home side giving away a penalty. In difficult windy conditions the shot at goal was just missed wide by George Huish.
The strong start began to fade due to some indiscipline which would turn out to be a recurring theme for the rest of the fixture, with the Islanders finding themselves on the wrong side of the referee’s whistle more often than not. These penalties gave up valuable territory which allowed the medics to score two tries out wide in quick succession. IW bounced back with their scrummaging prowess led by the front row of Newnham, Bennett and Keyes causing problems 5 metres out, allowing co-captain Andrew Brown to control the ball over the line from the back of the scrum. Unfortunately, due to the flatness of the ball, Huish had to attempt the conversion by drop goal with the ball going just whiskers wide. More problems with discipline allowed the home side to stretch the lead going into halftime with a shot at goal. The half time score had the hosts 15 - 5 in front.
After taking a good look at themselves during the half time break, the Island started strongly with a build-up of sustained pressure from phase play allowing Evan Toms to go over in the corner. A moment of skill followed with the conversion; as the ball fell off the tee Huish hit it on the bounce for it to sail over between the sticks, closing the gap to a mere 3 points. However this did not last long, as yet again more poor discipline let the hosts extend the lead, with another shot at goal making the score 18 - 12.
The Islanders started to get a better foothold into the game thanks to Fountain Inn Man of the Match Callum Pudney, who consistently turned over the oppositions line out, with the rest of the forward pack making sure the same occurred on the opposition scrum. A scrum penalty allowed fly half Marriott to kick to the corner with great precision giving his forwards the opportunity from 5 metres. A fluent lineout move led to a well set maul with all the pack involved for Keyes to crash over the line in the corner. A tricky conversion attempt just skimmed wide.
IW were now in ascendancy with only a point separating the two sides, but the comeback came to a halt with the visitors yet again having problems with their discipline. This led to giving up vast territory helped by the wind allowing for the home side to launch an attack from the Island’s 22 scoring off some good back line play in the corner. The result was all but sealed from the following kick off when the receiver went the length to score again in the space of a few minutes. This knocked the momentum out of the visitors and the game finished 30 - 17 to the hosts despite it being a 1 point game with less than ten minutes to play. IW have next Saturday off, but will aim to bounce back at home on the 12th February, when they host Fawley.
Isle of Wight squad: M.Newnham, I.Bennett, R.Keyes, K.Blackburn, D.Bishop, I.Puzey, C. Pudney, A.Brown, A.Augustus, T.Marriott, N.Rolfe, L.Blackman, G.Huish, E.Toms, G.Warvill, K.Wallace, T.Groves, C.Browne.
