Isle of Wight RFC continued their 100% start to the season and maintained their unbeaten home run in 2022 with a hard-earned victory over Winchester’s 2nd team.
The form guide suggested this would be a close affair and so it proved, with little between the sides at any point in proceedings. IW were on the scoreboard in the 1st 5 minutes, courtesy of a George Huish penalty, but would then spend 20 minutes in their own half defending, as Winch monopolised possession.
Crucially, the home defence held during this period, with impressive tackling and organisation in evidence from the likes of James Webster and Harri Jones-Evans. Finally, the siege was lifted, IW having the better of the scrums and stringing together phases, which yielded penalty opportunities. Biffa man-of-the-match Huish converted these, the 2nd being an impressive kick of close to 50 metres, and IW led 9-0 at the break.
Half time: Isle of Wight 9-0 Winchester II
Winchester had fielded a young and energetic side and kept coming at IW after the restart, this time being rewarded with a converted try to narrow the gap. Whereas the game had been stop-start in the 2nd quarter, the ball was now in play a lot more, and it was IW’s turn to stress the Winchester defence. Moving play from one side to another, the mainlanders ran out of defenders and second-row Aidan Martin crashed over out wide, giving IW a 14-7 lead.
Back came the visitors, levelling the scores with a length-of-the-field run-in and conversion. The spoils were now up for grabs, but IW responded to the pressure and the backing of their supporters. Reintroducing Fountain Inn man-of-the-match Ricky Keyes proved a shrewd move, as he helped the IW pack to splinter their opposition numerous times in the closing quarter, another Huish penalty edging the home side in front.
With Winch now confined to their own 22, IW turned the screw. Captain Luke Blackman had been shackled well for the most part, but when he received possession a few yards out, there was only ever likely to be one outcome and he barged over, Huish’s conversion sealing the deal.
Full time: Isle of Wight 24-14 Winchester II
Isle of Wight: Ward, Rolfe, Jones-Evans, Waterer, C Browne, Huish, Augustus, Newnham, McQueen, Keyes, Martin, Pudney, Bennett, Webster, Blackman. Replacements: Lynch, Blackburn, Wallace.
The Isle of Wight next host Andover II at Wootton Rec on Saturday (15th October) at 15:00, with the chance to go 2nd in the league with a win. Meanwhile, the 2nd team travel to Chichester III.
