Sandown & Shanklin beat Bognor by 10 points in their 1st game of 2023 on Saturday (23rd January).
The Hurricanes got off to an enterprising start, playing down the hill and with the wind at their backs. A series of penalties provided them with a lineout 7 metres out from the Bognor try line. The resulting catch and drive were ominous and Captain, Zak Chiverton dotted down to open the scoring. Anthony Burr’s conversion drifted just short in challenging conditions for the kickers.
Following the restart, the visitors fought back and, after having the lion’s share of territory in the Sandown 22, they eventually got their 1st score of the game. Solid tackling from Dawson and Hunter kept Bognor at bay for so long, until some smart handling from the visitors sent their winger into space to level the scores (5-5).
The tricky conditions meant that handling errors were plenty between either side, and an attritional battle ensued between the 22s of each team. A series of penalties provided the opportunity for the Hurricanes forwards to test the Bognor defence from close range, yet were denied. The reward for their effort was a penalty kick from Burr, to push Sandown again, (8-5).
Sandown could not hold onto this advantage going into the half-time interval, as Bognor wore down the hosts’ defence again. After a number of carries close to the Hurricanes’ try line, Bognor eventually scored out wide (8-10).
Half time: Sandown & Shanklin 8-10 Bognor
With the swap of the halves at the interval, Sandown now played up the hill and against the prevailing wind; however, the rain had abated. The 2nd half started in a similar fashion to the 1st, with Bognor looking to wear down the Hurricanes’ defence. Strong tackling from Sam Rees and Henry Bagnall, and backs Luke Chandler and Michael Barrett, helped prevent the visitors from scoring again. This defensive effort limited Bognor to a solitary penalty kick, to extend the advantage 8-13.
Following the restart, the Hurricanes earned their way into Bognor territory, thanks to excellent line-out work by Damian Seder. After an attacking drive from Chandler was held onto for too long in front of the try line, the Bognor tackler was yellow-carded and sent to the sin bin. Captain Zak Chiverton elected for the scrum on the Bognor 5-metre line and, after a reset scrum, the Hurricanes pack drove the Bognor pack backwards. The quick-thinking Tom Marriott was alert enough to dot the ball down over the try line. Burr converted the try to swing the momentum back in Sandown’s favour (15-13).
Following the Bognor kick-off, the ball was spun wide to Wightfibre Man of the Match, Jacob Jordan, as the flanker broke a tackle and then sprinted upfield. He then found Barrett, who offloaded smartly to Marriott. The scrum half then passed wide to debutant Max Fletcher, who sprinted away to score in the corner and extend the hosts’ lead (20-13).
As the pressure grew on the visitors, they returned to their full compliment, before another player was sent to the sin bin for another indiscretion at the breakdown. The heavens opened again and, as Sandown worked their way upfield again, they were rewarded with another scrum in the Bognor 22. The Sandown pack pushed the Bognor pack back again, and then Marriott linked up again with Fletcher for his 2nd on his 1st start for the Hurricanes (25 – 13).
The visitors didn’t give up and relentlessly searched for a score in the dying minutes of the game. They finally got their try in the corner to spark a hint of a comeback for them (25 – 18). The Hurricanes held on and finished the game with 1 final penalty from Burr to deny Bognor the losing bonus point (28-18).
Full time: Sandown & Shanklin 28-18 Bognor
After the match, Director of Rugby, Damien Marriott, said:
“We made it very difficult for ourselves in 1st half when we had the weather conditions in our favour; we attempted to play a little too much, which resulted in putting us under pressure. However, in the 2nd half, the boys really pulled it out of the bag; fighting against the conditions and the hill, it was an incredible turnaround to secure victory”.
Next Saturday, the Hurricanes are in action as they travel to Alresford RFC; meanwhile, the 2nd XV are also on the road, as they travel to Southampton RFC.
