The Island second team got back to winning ways with an emphaticvictory at Alresford. The home side were depleted and the Islanddonated them Noel Finn, Josh Collinson and later Brandon Frost-Jones,all of whom tackled their hearts out and helped to make the gamecompetitive. Foundations were laid for this victory in the openinghalf-hour, where a 24-point haul effectively put the Islanders out ofreach.

After good performances in defeat in recent games, the IW targettedvictory in this game, and began like a whirlwind. Forwards and backscombined well, and from a close-in ruck Lymington Precision Engineersman of the match Ali Downer was able to drive over for the openingscore. Kieran Leahy converted. Alresford responded but the Islandturned over ball in their own 22, and Ali Gates was given some space.He took full advantage, showing tremendous pace to beat severalwouldbe tacklers en route to the line for another converted try.

It was by no means one-way traffic, but Alresford's only score camefrom an Island error, as a backline move malfunctioned and the hostswere able to hack on and score a seven-pointer to halve the deficit.Stung by this, the Island were soon on the attack again and Leahy wasaccurate with a 40 metre penalty to open up a ten-point lead. The IWwere soon scoring again, being more patient in their build-up play andstringing together a remarkable number of phases before theinfluential Martin Newnham crashed over. The conversion made it 24-7at the break.

The Island would now have to play up the significant slope, and knewthat a quick try would realistically finish the contest. They obligedin the second minute of the second half, as centre Stuart Browne cut astraight line off a Will Peters pass and raced in untouched underneaththe posts for another seven points.

Alresford showed good spirit throughout, and the next twenty minuteswere something of a stalemate, as neither side were able to get theupper hand. However, the Island finished the stronger, as Tom Lovemarked his return to the game after a long absence with an industriousperformance, while Andy Puckett and replacement Simon Gilpin alsoimpressed. An inside ball by Peters was taken on by Sandy Wilson, whojinked around a number of defenders to score, while Wilson then turnedprovider to free elusive wing Tom White, who sidestepped his man toscore on the right. Leahy narrowly missed the last conversion to spoilan otherwise perfect record from the placed ball, but it wasimmaterial as the Island celebrated victory.

Tomorrow (Saturday) both Island sides host Overton at Wootton Rec,kicking off at 2.30 pm.IW: Leahy, T White, Browne, Phillips, Gates, Peters, Tyson, Newnham,Love, Scovell, Downer, A Puckett, Frost-Jones, Wilson, Curran.Replacements: Finn, Collinson, S Gilpin, Howell.

An away trip to third placed Nomads had the potential to be a challenge for the Hampshire 2 leaders and a focussed and committed home site were determined to make their visitors work.

Early scrummages hinted at the later dominance the Island pack were to impose, but it was from a line in the Nomads 22 that the Island drove, re cycling fast ball for Chris Williams to put Andy White in. Phil Baldwin added the conversion.

With their defence as solid as ever, it was the Islands infringements that denied them further chances. When these chances were created forced play killed them off. A Baldwin Penalty was the only other score of the half.

A refocused Island came out at the start of the second half and stamped their authority on the game and the league. Again White was on hand to crash over for his second. It then seemed that it was all White, as again Andy White completed his hat trick, carrying three defenders over the line.

Counter attacking from a line won on Nomads put in, the Island ran from in their own 22. Fullback Williams weaved up field and Adam Leal popped up on his shoulder to score. Baldwin added the kick.

Nomads then applied pressure as the Island side relaxed. But with not conceding any points in 2010 and no tries for four matches, the defence locked in on their own line. Pressure on the attacking Nomads led to turn over ball as the counter attack raced up pitch. With what appeared as an overlap to the left, Baldwin focussed right and chipped into space for Nick Puckett to run some 30 yards, collect the kick and sprint over. With Baldwin adding the conversion the Island had signed off with another impressive away victory.

Lymington Precision Engineering Man of the Match went to the industrious Coleman Cotter who had linked forwards and backs effectively all day.

IWRFC: C Williams, J Curran, N Brading, C Dinu, G Paisley, P Baldwin, C Cotter, N Puckett, A Leal, A White, A Thomas, D Church, D Jennings, M Newnham, I Puzey, O Boulter, N Tombleson, I Rock, A Gates, D Metcalfe.

A valiant Isle of Wight second team endured defeat in their opening game of 2010 in an entertaining encounter at Millbrook. This closely contested game could have gone either way, and while Millbrook deserved victory for their second half dominance of territory, the scoreline was hard on the visitors.

The Island started well, scoring a try in the second minute. Having forced a scrum in the home 22, Sam Tyson moved the ball right to flyhalf Gary Warvill, who ghosted through a gap in the home defence to touch down. Warvill missed the conversion and had an unsuccessful day from the kicking tee, but his contribution in general play was invaluable.

Millbrook came back strongly and pressurised the Island line for some minutes, but were forced to settle for a penalty to narrow the gap. The IW soon extended their lead to 10-3, as Kevin Scovell supported a Warvill break to score his first try in five years. Again Millbrook responded with gusto, but again the Island defence was firm, as captain Rob Lilly and Drainmaster man of the match Dave Gilpin led their resistance. Millbrook were awarded a penalty on the stroke of halftime which they kicked to leave the score at 10-6 to the IW.

The second half started badly for the visitors, as the kickoff was not secured and the ensuing passage of play saw Millbrook touch down to take a one point lead. Now the hosts began to dominate possession, opting for a mixture of close in driving and garryowens, which tested the back three of Leahy, White and Collinson regularly. However, the Island were often able to negate both tactics, but a period of intense pressure eventually led to a converted Millbrook try and an 18-10 lead.

With a side brimming with youthful pace, the Island gameplan had always been about running the ball wide and often, and this tactic continued to pay dividends. From a quick lineout engineered by Warvill and Ali Downer, quicksilver centre Brad Salter was given enough space to outpace his man and race clear from inside his own half for a magnificent try. A Millbrook penalty goal soon after left the Island trailing by six.

Once again the Island rallied, and another fine move ended with Lymington Precision Engineers man of the match Salter touching down in the opposite corner. Now trailing by a point, the Island could sense victory but Millbrook constructed another score with the help of their strong replacements bench. As time ran out on the Island, they attempted to move the ball from behind their own line in search of a winning seven-pointer, but a chip kick was charged down and regathered by Millbrook for the final score of the game, which was harsh on the Island who were close to victory throughout.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the seconds travel to Alresford, while the firsts are next in action at home to Overton on Saturday 13 February.

IW: Leahy, Collinson, Salter, Phillips, T White, Warvill, Tyson, Byrne, Lilly, Scovell, Downer, Paterson, Finn, D Gilpin, Frost-Jones.

The Island tightened their grip on Hampshire Two with an expected comfortable victory over basement team Stoneham at Wootton Rec. After a brief early period where Stoneham made life difficult, the Island were in control in all areas of the game and ran in fourteen tries in total, displaying sublime handling, running and support play.

It was a dream start for the hosts, scoring one of the club’s quickest ever tries inside thirty seconds, as Colman Cotter chipped over the top and Andy White won the race for the touchdown. Stoneham’s response was immediate, winning primary possession and spending the next five minutes in the Island 22, but they were unable to make it count on the scoreboard and the IW soon assumed total ascendancy, Nick Puckett scoring their second try from a five-metre scrum. A third score soon followed as Adam Leal broke from halfway and handed off two tacklers on his way to the line.

Backs and forwards were contributing to the ruthless Island performance, but the scrum again stood out with Lymington Precision Engineers man of the match Ian Puzey having a dynamic game. There was time for more tries before the break as Neil Brading, Puckett and Cotter all crossed in the same corner. Phil Baldwin and Gareth Paisley had difficult days with the boot, Paisley adding one conversion for a 32-0 lead at halftime.

The IW were determined to keep their focus despite the effective end of the game as a contest, and this was necessary as the outgunned Stoneham side never gave up and had their moments in an entertaining, open game. The first try of the second half was also one of the Island’s best, as fullback Chris Williams cut a superb angle to score under the posts. Brading was soon in for his second, before a fine team movement freed Ian Rock to score in the corner.

Using their squad, the IW made four substitutions in the second period, and it was noteworthy that all four got on the scoresheet. James Curran crossed within minutes of coming on, while Ali Gates scored twice, the second after a length of the field move and a perceptive cross kick from Baldwin. Sandy Wilson and Dave Gilpin also made their mark by touching down in their time on the pitch. Baldwin kicked one conversion and Paisley two in the second half. The IW left satisfied with their performance, but looking ahead to a tricky away game next.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the Island firsts travel to Southsea Nomads, while the seconds go to Millbrook.

IW: Williams, Rock, Brading, Dinu, Paisley, Baldwin, Cotter, Puzey, Newnham, Jennings, A. White, Thomas, Tombleson, Leal, N. Puckett. Replacements: Curran, Gates, Wilson, D. Gilpin

The Island opened 2010 in style with a resounding victory in Dorset. After a four week layoff, they picked up where they left off from their win over local rivals Ventnor and were far too strong for their opposition, consolidating their lead at the top of Hampshire Two.

Though the whole Island side played their part, the credit for this success can largely go to the forwards. They were in total control at the scrum, and the pace and power of their support play was too much for Lytchett. Starting strongly, the Island forced a close in scrum, and Neil Brading fed Lymington Precision Engineers man of the match Catalin Dinu to bounce off two tackles and crash over. Shortly after this, the IW pack set up an efficient rolling maul and rumbled over, Ollie Boulter getting the touchdown.

Trailing by twelve points, the hosts did now get into the game but got no change from a resolute IW defence. When the Island recovered possession and generated quick ball, Brading made a scintillating break from inside his own half to register the Island’s third score.

A feature of the Island performance was the relentless support play of the back row, who were always looking for the offload. Sandy Wilson was prominent in this regard throughout, and when he supported an Island attack he was able to pass to Ali Gates to cross the whitewash. A fifth try was forthcoming just before halftime, as superb interplay involving Wilson and Andy White enabled the outstanding Adam Leal to score. Captain Gareth Paisley added two conversions for a 29-0 halftime score.

Lytchett were more competitive for a time on the restart, putting the Island under some pressure, while the play also grew scrappy for a while. The Island only managed one try in the third quarter, as the strong running Dinu registered his second score. However, the Island again finished strongly, replacement Nathan Tombleson squeezing through a pack of bodies to score with his first touch, while the impressive White had the last word. Paisley added a further conversion and the Islanders looked back on a satisfying clean sheet on the road.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the Island firsts host Stoneham, while the seconds host Aldershot & Fleet. Both games kick off at Wootton Rec at 2.30 pm, and are preceded by a vice-presidents’ lunch.
IW: Williams, Curran, Paisley, Dinu, Gates, Brading, Cotter, Puzey, Newnham, Jennings, Church, Boulter, Leal, Wilson, A. White. Replacements: Metcalfe, Tombleson, Rock, D. Gilpin.