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.