After a week off due to a bye in the fixtures, Sandown & Shanklin welcomed Bognor to the Fairway for their second league fixture of the 2019/20 Hampshire Premier campaign.
The home side got the game underway, kicking to the visitors down the pitch. The opening exchanges were physical, as both sides probed each other to find a way into the game. A short line from Wayne Williams saw him puncture the Bognor defensive line and sprint away to score in the corner. Flux lined up the conversion, yet it slid wide, 5 – 0.
Excellent pressure from the young duo of Hopper and Seder at the lineout, continuously put pressure on the Bognor set piece. Sandown & Shanklin turned possession over at the breakdown and, flanker Harry Hopper evaded numerous tackles before being bundled over the try line for the host’s second try of the game, to increase Sandown’s advantage, 12 – 0.
Unfortunately, young prop Ben Shannon had to be carried from the field with an injury and looks to be out for a couple of weeks with an ankle injury. The home forwards working play into the Bognor half and the backline outmanoeuvring the defence to create the space for Carew to charge in 15 metres out. The advantage increased to 17 – 0.
Bognor fired back, managing to pierce the defensive line at one moment to score and give themselves a foothold into the game, 17 – 7.
From the restart, the Hurricanes pressured the receiver and the Bognor forwards looked to get momentum back in their favour. Winger Michael Barrett did exceptionally well to read the Bognor attacking play to then intercept the pass and sprint in to score for the Hurricanes fourth try of the game and secure the bonus point, 24 – 7.
Flanker Wayne Williams grabbed his second try of the game. The conversion missed, but the Hurricanes went into the half time break 29 – 7 ahead.
Following the half time interval, another strong catch and drive and the line out saw the home side take play up to the visitors 22. Eventually, when space opened up, some quick handling allowed Man of the Match, Matt Miselbach to score for the Hurricanes, 36 – 7.
The visitor’s defence again attempting to halt the Sandown momentum, but could not hold back the dynamic drives from the forwards. Moments later, Williams was able to score again, when the Hurricanes attack again outflanked the Bognor defence and gave the flanker now winger the opportunity to sprint in for his hat-trick. The conversion missed, 41 – 7. Moments later quick handling from fly-half Owen Williams created space for centre Tyson to step his way through the defence and to sprint to the try line to score, 48 – 7.
As the clock wore on the visitors still looked to play and get something from the game, yet when their forwards looked to play just outside their 22, a missed pass was collected up by the impressive Frenchman, Richomme, who then sprinted in and evaded two defenders to score a very opportunistic try. The try converted, and the Hurricanes broke the 50-point barrier, 55 – 7.
A phase later, fly-half Owen Williams, used his impressive pace to weave past defenders and accelerate away from would-be tackles to go in under the posts to secure the Hurricanes tenth try. Flux converted to push the score past the 60-point barrier, 62 – 7.
Sandown & Shanklin RFC 62 – 7 Bognor RFC
The full match report is available on the SSRFC website.
