Sandown & Shanklin beat Ellingham & Ringwood by 7 points in their opening game at The Fairway.
The weather conspired against any free-flowing and open rugby, with rain coming in spells throughout the game and making handling conditions tricky.
The visitors opened the scoring, with the home side infringing and the away side electing to take a penalty shot at posts, which was converted for an early lead (0 – 3).
This lead did not last long, as Ellingham then infringed, and Anthony Burr penalised the Hurries’ opponents by converting a penalty (3 – 3).
Playing down the hill, the Hurricanes built momentum. From a set play, the ball made its way to Burr, who chipped over the defence and then managed to recollect possession and step the full back to fully kick start the Hurricanes season. The fly half converted to edge the home side into the lead (10 – 3).
Sandown managed to pull some phases of play together to create their 2nd score of the afternoon. Following an excellent break from Luke Wedderkop, he was just dragged down a few metres short of the try line. The ball was recycled and passed out to Flux, who in turn fed Hunter, who was also stopped agonisingly short of the try line. With the ball at the back of the ruck, replacement and man-of-the-match, Darren Carew drove over the line for the try (15 – 3).
The remainder of the first half saw the Sandown defence frustrate the Ellingham attack. As the Hurricanes repelled the visitors’ spells of attacks, they away side were left to taking penalties to edge their way back into the game, and converting two penalties saw the half end 15 – 9 in favour of the hosts.
Half time: Sandown & Shanklin 15-9 Ellingham & Ringwood
As Ellingham regathered the kick off, they put several phases together which began to stretch the Sandown defence and gain them yardage over the advantage line. They worked themselves up to the try line and, after a juggle from one of their props, he secured the ball and dotted down. The conversion was successful, and Ellingham took the lead once again (15 – 16).
This period of pressure was then followed up by another penalty from the boot of Ellingham’s deadly kicker, to extend their lead (15 – 19).
The Hurricanes fought back, as their patterns of play began to stick, Ellingham were beginning to get under the cosh. This then told as the away side’s winger was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on. Following on the numerical advantage ,the Hurricanes elected to take the scrum and drove forward. The ball was then spun wide to Burr, who then judged his crossfield kick perfectly for winger George Finan to collect and score. Burr was able to convert and put the home side back into the lead (22 – 19).
Sandown then followed this up moments later with the 4th try of the afternoon to secure the try bonus point. A mazy run from Rob Newton, saw him power through the E&R defence to dot down, with Burr converting once again, to stretch the home sides lead to 29 – 19 with less than ten minutes remaining.
Despite losing a prop to injury, the visitors rallied, and a late penalty kick narrowed the Hurricanes winning margin (29 – 22), setting up a nervy finish.
The visitors rolled themselves up to the Sandown try line, with a chance to come away an unlikely draw. However, the Hurricanes defence prevailed, and a breakdown penalty allowed the home side to clear the ball and finish the first 80 minutes of the season victorious.
Full time: Sandown & Shanklin 29-22 Ellingham & Ringwood
