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