The Hurricanes recorded their 1st victory at the Fairway Ground this season by beating United Services Portsmouth on Saturday 24th September.
The game didn’t get off to the greatest of starts, as US Portsmouth were soon ahead, following an indiscretion at the breakdown. This was followed up by a 2nd penalty kick to provide the visitors with a 0 – 6 advantage after 15 minutes played. There were flashes of life from the home side, but they could not fire into life, despite being on top in the set pieces and squandering territory in the opposition 22, due to silly penalties and inaccuracy.
The away side compounded Sandown’s woes, by notching up the 1st try of the game. An excellent line cut by the USP full-back saw him sprint to the try line to dot down; the conversion was successful; the hosts were down 0 – 13.
Sandown plugged away trying to find a way back, but were their own worst enemy spoiling attacking opportunities with inaccurate passing and work at the breakdown. After a period of strong carrying from Darren Carew and Captain, Zak Chiverton, the Hurricanes were starting to get a foothold. But it was scrum half, Tom Marriott, making his home debut, who pinched an intercept to sprint home and score under the posts to spark the Hurricanes to life (7 – 13). This was shortly followed up by a penalty and again converted by Harvey Kirkby to narrow the margin to 10 – 13.
Moments later, a returning Flux subtitled on for Darren Carew, picked from the base of a scrum carried at the USP defence to tie in numbers. This created the opportunity for Anthony Burr to score under the posts, and Kirkby again converted to send the home side in 17 – 13 at halftime.
Half time: Hurricanes 17 – 13 United Services Portsmouth
Following the interval, the home side applied pressure of the restart and were rewarded with a penalty, which Kirkby again duly converted, 20 – 13. This only seemed to force USP into looking to play, and they soon turned the game on its head again. A well-worked backs move out manoeuvred the Hurricanes’ defence and allowed the visitors to score a try, which was converted to level the score line, 20 – 20. With Sandown under pressure, Sam Rees was sin-binned after an incident of the restart. This swung the momentum back in favour of the away side, who worked their way upfield due to more ill-discipline from the hosts and scored their third try of the afternoon (20 – 27).
With one man short, the Hurricanes knuckled down and started to simplify their play. Consistent work at the line out and the scrum resulted in attacking platforms in the USP half. With quicker possession, thanks to Wightfibre Man of the Match, Sam Dawson, Sandown were able to get on the front foot. Carrying and from Hunter, Flux and Rees got the side metres from the USP try line. This then gave the opportunity for centre Michael Barrett to barge over for another scoreline-levelling 7-pointer (27 – 27).
As the momentum swung again, Harvey Kirkby was able to convert another penalty to edge the hosts into the lead with minutes left on the clock (30 – 27).
In the dying moments, pressure from the Sandown scrum caused the ball to be spilt by the opposition fly-half. This presented the opportunity for Marriott to claim the ball; he then evaded one defender, before passing to Seder, who was left unopposed to secure victory for the hosts. Kirkby was denied 100% accuracy as his final kick narrowly missed the posts (35 – 27).
Full time: Hurricanes 35-27 United Services Portsmouth
After the game, Director of Rugby Damien Marriott said:
“We obtained five points today with some very good rugby at moments, but we as a team will have a hard look at ourselves as to why the first quarter was so poor. However, we showed a great commitment to fight back from 13 points down, and we managed to keep them out it was a lot closer then it needed to be. It provides us plenty of things to work on before we move onto Bognor next week.”
