Isle of Wight RFC were narrowly defeated by visitors Chichester in a high-scoring Counties 2 Hampshire clash at Wootton Rec.
The home side will look back on this as an opportunity missed, as they had plenty of possession and territory at various stages of the match but were not as clinical as their opponents.
Conditions were almost ideal but the match started scrappily before Chichester opened the scoring with a try inside 10 minutes. It was a bad start for the home side, amplified by the loss of dependable full-back Dan Ward to injury. Isle of Wight’s riposte was immediate though, building through several phases before fly-half George Huish jinked right and found the space to cross and level the scores on 16 minutes.
Chichester are in the bottom half of the league like Isle of Wight but have been scoring freely in their games to date and showed their attacking guile with power and pace when notching their second and third tries, aided by some disappointing IW tackling. These scores sandwiched the home side’s 2nd try, which was a textbook lineout catch and drive, ending in a touchdown for front-row stalwart Martin Newnham.
At 15-10 to Chichester, the scoring abated for a spell, but the Islanders were camped in the Chichester 22 for 10 minutes without anything to show for it. There was a disappointing moment in this period, as IW scored a fine try through captain Luke Blackman, but the opposition touch judge raised his flag to claim that the airborne Huish was in touch when offloading the final pass inside. The hosts were also held up over the line by an excellent covering tackle.
Chichester survived the onslaught and made the most of their own next attack, getting a converted try to secure a bonus point and lead 22-10 at halftime.
Half time: Isle of Wight 10-22 Chichester 2nds
Isle of Wight redoubled their efforts after the break, with Ben Hart, Sam McQueen and Biffa man of the match Kevin Blackburn at the heart of affairs. The difference between the sides was largely defensively, as the Islanders had to work hard for most of their scores and string phases together, while Chichester were aided by some passive defending from their hosts.
The home team were again held up over the line in this spell. However, the home side were rewarded for some energetic and direct play when the ever dangerous Huish cut a great line to crash over.
With tails up, the Islanders were straight back on the attack from the restart, and after Blackman was stopped short, forward Brad Martin battled his way over. IW now had their own bonus for four tries, while Huish’s conversion levelled the scores at 22-22 with 20 minutes remaining.
Momentum seemed on Isle of Wight’s side, but it was swiftly taken away by a brilliant breakaway try from Chichester, soon followed by another to restore their 12 point lead.
Isle of Wight were not done, striking at the core of the enemy rearguard for Tanner Electrical man of the match Huish to score under the posts and complete his hat-trick, the extras making it 29-34 with plenty of time still on the clock.
Though the home side had much of the 2nd-half territorial advantage, Chichester kept their cool and pinned IW back well with some accurate kicking. They now applied pressure of their own, resulting in an injury-time try to lead by ten and wrap up the victory.
Isle of Wight are nothing if not determined and again roared back with the final attack of the game. When awarded a penalty in front of the posts, they wisely opted for the goal-kick: this brought Huish’s personal tally to 22 points and gave his team a 2nd bonus point for losing by 7.
Full time: Isle of Wight 32-39 Chichester II
Isle of Wight: Ward, Wynyard-Wright, Jones-Evans, McQueen, Young, Huish, Lockhart, Hart, Butler, Newnham, B Martin, Blackburn, Bennett, Webster, Blackman. Replacements: Joyce, A Martin, Jones.
Despite their defeat, the 2 bonus points move IW up a place in the league table. They next travel to Fareham Heathens.
