Sandown & Shanklin RFC hosted Fordingbridge at the weekend, looking to set the record straight after a narrow defeat in the reverse fixture earlier in the season and looking to maintain an unbeaten record during 2023.
Just like last week, it was the visitors scoring the opening points after the Hurricanes were caught over playing in their own 22, with the ball lost in contact, and falling just right to the visitors they then found the space out wide to score. Fordingbridge missed the extras with a difficult conversion, but took the early lead 0 – 5.
The hosts almost went further behind, as the visitors openside flanker was given a gift by Sandown, after he intercepted a pass just inside the 22m. Luckily for Sandown, the ball went away from the flanker, and prevented what would have been a walk in.
With the pressure on Sandown, the hosts stepped it up a notch scoring moments afterwards, following a brilliant breakaway from fly half Antony Burr, who’s fabulous footwork, fox trotted his way over to score. Burr then also added the conversion, 7 – 5.
The opening quarter was starting to become a real battle, the pace of the game increased with the visitors playing some lovely rugby. The Hurricanes power game created a real arm wrestle and with the hosts forced into an early change as, full back Max Fletcher was forced off with a serious-looking shoulder injury.
The coaching team were forced into switching the back line around, but then it was Fordingbridge coaches that needed to re-jink their pack after a moment of madness from their second rower, who decided to drop his knee into the side of Hugo Jolliffe’s head right in front of the referee. This left the man in the middle with no choice, but to show him a red card.
With Fordingbridge down to 14 men, it was the away side that remarkably scored the next try. Taking the lead with a fine cross field kick into the corner using the penalty advantage to their favour. The difficult conversion kept the scores within 3 points, 7 – 10.
Sandown had a huge chance to take the lead after a fine break from Damian Seder who’s arms broke free to offload to Sam Tyson running a superb line for an excellent score. However, the man in the middle thought the pass was forward.
Fordingbridge now edged further forward, keeping the scoreboard ticking over with a fine penalty kick from just from 40m out 7 – 13. Huge dominance with both the scrums and lineouts kept Sandown within touching distance, after a spate of penalties in favour of the home side. This provided the home the opportunity to put their powerful pack in position to attack, with a rolling maul from 7 metres out, and Ben Shannon popping up at the back of the maul and diving over to score, on the stroke of half time. Sandown went into the break a point behind.
Half time: Sandown & Shanklin RFC 12-13 Fordingbridge RFC
Straight from the restart, Captain Zak Chiverton rose highest to claim the kickoff deep into Fordingbridge territory. With quick ball from the resulting ruck, simple hands allowed Michael Barrett to use his speed and power through a gap for the Hurricanes to take the lead, Burr added the conversion to make it a seven pointer, 19 – 13.
Shannon added his 2nd try and obtained the bonus point ,again from a rolling maul, 24 – 16. With the man advantage starting to take its toll on Fordingbridge, the away side rotated its forwards to keep bodies fresh, but were sent another massive blow after a monstrous hit by Sam Rees on his opposite number, meaning he left the field, and took any momentum the visitors had away.
It was the 2nd row partnership of Sam Flux and Luke Hunter, that created the next score, with Flux pulling strings in midfield for Hunter to bulldoze over, and take the result away from Fordingbridge 31 – 16.
With the defenders trying to keep tabs on all of Sandown attacking options, the lack of concentration at the side of the ruck was spotted by scrum-half Tom Marriott, who maintained his fine scoring record, with a show and go, then to speed away for Sandown’s 6th try 36 – 16.
The Hurricanes 7th and final score came in the closing minutes of the game, and was a carbon copy of his 1st try earlier in the game. Barrett scored out on the left hand side and finished the game.
Full time: Sandown & Shanklin RFC 43 – 16 Fordingbridge RFC
After the game, Director of Rugby Damien Marriott said:
“The first half wasn’t our best by the very high standards we set ourselves. Despite having the man advantage, Fordingbridge were by far the better team in the opening forty minutes. However, at the break we simplified our game plan and went back to basics.
“The lads did this club and the supporters proud to continue this excellent momentum we have at the moment.”
This coming Saturday (18th February) the 1st XV travel to Tottonians RFc 2nd XV for their 3rd to last game of the season. Meanwhile, the 2nd XV are back in action, as they welcome Bognor RFC 2nd XV to the Fairway Ground.
