Isle of Wight RFC maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a dramatic stoppage-time try securing a thrilling 23–19 victory over Alton on Saturday (31st October).
In a fiercely contested encounter between 2 sides boasting perfect records, the Islanders snatched victory at the death to make it 5 wins from 5 and extend their impressive unbeaten run on home soil.
With Isle of Wight, Alton and Fawley already emerging as early frontrunners in the league, there was plenty riding on the clash.
Alton arrived on the back of several high-scoring victories and wasted little time demonstrating their attacking threat, crossing for the opening try inside 2 minutes.
The Islanders were dealt a further blow when Tom Crews, making his first start for the club, was forced off through injury.
However, the hosts responded in style when quick-thinking full-back George Huish tapped a penalty on the Alton 22-metre line and weaved through the defence to score.
Huish converted his own try to put Isle of Wight 7–5 ahead, but the remainder of the first half belonged largely to Alton.
The visitors dominated territory and possession, repeatedly threatening the home try line, only to be frustrated by some outstanding defensive work.
Alton were held up over the line, while handling errors and relentless tackling prevented them from adding to their tally.
Winger Aaron Young, later named Biffa IW Man of the Match, made 2 important interceptions as the Islanders held firm to preserve their narrow advantage.
Half-time: Isle of Wight 7 – 5 Alton
The hosts emerged strongly after the restart, with Huish kicking an early penalty to extend their lead to 10–5.
Despite losing Dan Ward to the sin bin for a high tackle, Isle of Wight continued to battle, and another successful Huish penalty stretched their advantage to 13–5.
Alton responded by piling pressure on the home try line, but the Islanders’ defence once again held firm, even holding the visitors up over the line for a second time.
However, a lapse in concentration following the resulting goal-line dropout allowed Alton’s scrum-half to exploit a gap and race beneath the posts.
The conversion reduced the deficit to just a single point at 13–12, setting up a tense final quarter.
With 10 minutes remaining, Alton were themselves reduced to 14 players following a high challenge, allowing Huish to kick his third penalty and restore a 4-point advantage.
But the visitors were far from finished.
With just 5 minutes left, Alton produced a well-worked try, which was converted to put them 19–16 ahead and leave the Islanders staring at their first defeat of the campaign.
Refusing to surrender, Isle of Wight launched a desperate late fightback.
A penalty presented Huish with the opportunity to level the scores, but his effort drifted wide, seemingly handing Alton the chance to see out the contest.
However, roared on by the home crowd, the Islanders mounted one final attack deep into stoppage time.
Ben Sanderson and Harri Jones-Evans made vital ground before the forwards carried possession to within touching distance of the Alton line, where the visitors conceded a penalty.
Captain Luke Blackman was stopped agonisingly short, but another Alton infringement offered the hosts one final opportunity.
Rather than settle for a possible draw, Isle of Wight gambled on going for the win.
A cleverly disguised move from the tap penalty saw Blackman, later named SD Tanner Electrical Man of the Match, fire the ball out to Huish, who crossed beneath the posts to spark jubilant celebrations among the home supporters.
Huish added the conversion to complete a remarkable personal haul of 23 points and seal a memorable victory.
Full-time: Isle of Wight 23 – 19 Alton
Isle of Wight: Huish, Jones-Evans, Crews, Sanderson, Young, Ward, D Blackman, Newnham, McQueen, Turtle, Collett, J Bishop, Bennett, Lynch, L Blackman (captain) Subs: Marsh, Wynyard-Wright, Thorne.
The result maintains Isle of Wight’s perfect start to the campaign, with the Islanders now enjoying a weekend off before welcoming Andover II on Saturday 14th November.
