Isle of Wight finished their season in glorious sunshine at Wootton Rec by hosting a touring side – Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) RFC on Saturday (17th May).
The tourists arrived on the back of a resounding 54-0 win over Hampshire Constabulary at Gosport during the week, while IW were without a game in 7 weeks.
Both teams served up a sporting and vigorously contested match for those watching, albeit on a rather firm pitch. PSNI opened the scoring, but this was soon cancelled out by a piece of individual brilliance by Red Funnel man-of-the-match George Huish, chipping over the top and regathering to touch down under the posts.
The visitors were a physically strong and well-drilled team, especially in the backs, meaning that IW had to defend well time and again. On top in the scrums, the Isle of Wight competed well all over the pitch, and though they went behind 12-7 in the second quarter, they began a period of superiority with young forwards Riley Lloyd and Cody Hayman carrying hard on debut, and fellow debutants Josh Ford and Freddie Sheath dovetailing well at half-back. It was the experienced Huish who made it count on the scoreboard, finishing off a slick Isle of Wight set move and converting, giving his team a 14-12 lead at half-time.
Half time: Isle of Wight RFC 14-12 Police Service Northern Ireland
PSNI upped the ante after half-time, with more replacements to call on in the warm weather. They also began to win some of the Islanders’ lineout ball, while stabilising their scrum after a shaky start. The Isle of Wight gave up a soft try early in the 2nd half, but made the visitors work for their next two scores, which were superbly constructed and made the score 33-14.
The Isle of Wight battled on, Jim Willetts coming off the bench for his swansong in an Isle of Wight shirt, while Biffa man of the match Dan Bishop caught the eye with a great cover tackle on a PSNI outside back. Experienced wing Aaron Young intercepted an opposition move on the wing and raced up the touchline, before chipping through and being tackled late. A penalty was awarded where the ball landed, and the impressive Sheath was quickest to react, taking the quick tap and touching down for a deserved try. PSNI finished in control, and though IW held them up over the try line, the goal-line drop-out was regathered by the victors and worked through the middle for the final score of a most enjoyable afternoon.
Full time: Isle of Wight RFC 19-40 Police Service of Northern Ireland
Isle of Wight RFC: Ward, Wynyard-Wright, Browne, Huish, Young, Sheath, Ford, Lloyd, McQueen, Thorne, D Bishop, J Bishop, Jones-Evans, D Blackman, Hayman, Willetts, Webster.
