Sandown & Shanklin Rugby Club’s Hurricanes maintained their 100% start to the season with a hard-fought victory over Eastleigh RFC 2nd XV on Saturday (22nd September).
In a tense first half, where both sides attempted to get accustom themselves to the conditions, it was the home side who struck first, courtesy of a penalty try midway through the first half.
In the second half the visitors struck back with a try of their own, however with the conversion missing, the score was delicately poised at 7 – 5 in favour of Sandown & Shanklin.
Midway through the second half, fullback and Man of the Match Owen Williams collected a fumbled Eastleigh pass and sprinted 60 metres to extend the Hurricanes lead.
The result was put out of reach in the dying moments of the game when Captain Sam Flux converted a late penalty to seal the victory and deny the visitors a losing bonus point.
The full match report can be found on the Sandown & Shanklin RFC website
Sandown & Shanklin RFC 15 – 5 Eastleigh RFC 2nd XV
Hurricanes 2nd XV Edge Eastleigh 3rd XV
This was Sandown & Shanklin RFC’s 2nd XV first game of the season, following the cancellation of the game the previous week. The home side got off to the better start with tries from Mark Tucker and Dan Sayers to put the hosts in a commanding position.
Eastleigh fought back in the second half with 2 tries of their own, however, in the last moments, the experienced duo of Paul Laidler and Pete Swallow combined to put the latter over the line to seal the home victory for the Hurricanes.
The victory marks a run of fixtures where the Hurricanes will be hosting 2 more doubleheaders at the Fairway in the coming weeks.
Sandown & Shanklin RFC 2nd XV 19 – 14 Eastleigh RFC 3rd XV
The full match reports can be found on the Sandown & Shanklin RFC website.
