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.