IW II 0-17 Tottonians IV
Isle of Wight RFC’s second string battled gallantly but had to give best to a strong and experienced Tottonians Vets side at Wootton Rec.
The home side had some availability issues and ended up with several players lining up out of position due to a shortage of backs, but overcame this to contribute to a gritty tussle, even if the outcome was never really in doubt. IW had a stiff northerly wind backing them in the first half, but in spite of spending most of that period in opposition territory, failed to come away with any points, their best opportunity being a Gary Warvill penalty attempt that drifted wide. Warvill and Dave Hanson directed the troops well, but IW struggled to win their own lineout ball, while the opposition defence proved unbreakable. In contrast, the well-drilled and physically imposing Tottonians side capitalised on a good start and were able to score twice when in IW territory, taking a 12-0 lead to the break.
With the wind to face in the second half, the scoreline could have become ugly for the home side, especially as they were pinned back throughout by precision kicking from the Totts half-backs. Yet IW defended uncompromisingly and made Totts work very hard for their single second-half try. Sam Webster-Smith and Biffa man of the match Tom Turtle stood out for the game Islanders, who host Millbrook II next Saturday at the Rec.
IW: Rolfe, Wynyard-Wright, T Groves, Jones-Evans, J Bishop, Warvill, Hanson, Puzey ©, Turtle, Metcalfe, N Joyce, A Groves, Stretch, Webster-Smith, Cameron, Dixon, Nobes.
