Mens 1st XV Match Reports for 2002/2003
season
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Date: Saturday
1st March 2003
Result: Isle of Wight 19 vs. Alresford
0 |
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THE ISLANDERS, already champions
of their division, showed why on Saturday with
another lockout against a determined Alresford.
The match marked the retirement of Paul SIMPSON
and he captained the league winners for this
match. It took the Islanders 20 minutes to
cross the try line with several efforts either
going to ground or valiant tackling by Alresford
keeping the inventive Island side at bay.
The first try came from a
fantastic dummy run by COURAGE into the visitors
twenty two who popped the ball to BROWNE coming
off the wing splitting the defence in two,
the timing of the pass and line of running
would grace teams divisions higher. WHITE converted
the try.
It took a further ten minutes
before a lineout on the Alresford line was
methodically mauled the ten metres to the line
and when the pack rose from the ground it was
Paul SIMPSON who quite appropriately had his
hands on the try scoring ball, WHITE again
converting.
Alresford pushed hard for
the last ten minutes but like many who come
to Wootton, they could find no way through
the exemplary defence of HEMOPO and PUCKETT.
The second half was spent
with the Island camped in the Alresford half
and inevitably when turn over ball on the left
of the pitch was won by the outstanding AUGUSTUS,
PALMER and SAWLE it found the dangerous COURAGE
splitting the cover before feeding EMERSON
who passed to PETERS who covered the last 20
metres to score in the corner.
The remainder of the half
allowed the Islanders to put pressure on the
visiting side by inviting them to breach their
defence, which soaked up the time.
Yet again the Islanders, sponsored by Spectrum Foods, put on a display of open
enjoyable rugby and showed supporters why their defence record is one of the
best in the country.
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Date: Saturday
22nd February 2003
Result: Portsmouth 2nd XV 11 vs. Isle
of Wight 1st XV 21 |
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An impressive result for the
Islanders against Portsmouth’s second
string, containing a number of 1st team squad
members has set the Wootton based outfit up
for their run in to the end of the season,
with a 100% league record the aim.
Considering that the home
side club lie some four divisions above, the
Islanders were never in awe, and set about
the task with determination and direction.
Playing with the wind, the visitors pegged back their opponents and quick ball
along the backs allowed Will Peters to crash into the corner. Portsmouth pressurised
the Island 22 and were rewarded with a penalty, but it was the Island who were
creating the chances as Jackson danced through a gap to release Philip Hemopo
to score.
Portsmouth again responded
with a penalty, but Andy White added two for
the Island from some 40 yards out. The second
half performance by the Island was not as fluent,
but against the wind the home side regularly
pinned back the visitors.
An outstanding feature of
this side has been their frugal and robust
defence, and again it stood the test. A five-minute
spell, with Pompey having three 5-meter scrums
witnessed the determination of the defence,
even in a friendly. But the pressure did tell
and Portsmouth scored.
However the Island were not
finished and ended the stronger. First prop
Metcalfe was denied a try by an unsighted ref,
before Peters wrapped up the game with his
second.
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Date: Saturday
15th February 2003
Result: US Portsmouth XV 10 vs. Isle
of Wight XV 10 |
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With the Hampshire Division
2 Championship now secure, the Island had the
opportunity to pit their skills against a club
two divisions higher. As often happens on International
Weekends, neither side were at full strength.
The Island opted to try some varied options
and to give some of their younger players 1st
XV experience.
The visitors pressurised US
at the scrum and drove the ball through the
forwards allowing their three quarters to attack.
Yet early defence was required to stem the
US counters and early cover tackles by Nigel
Harley and Nick Puckett maintained the clean
sheet.
Following pressure on the
home sides line Neil Emerson, playing at standoff,
carved through the defence to give the Island
the lead. Despite both sides attempting to
play flowing and open rugby no further scores
were added.
Early second half pressure
resulted in a US penalty and this was soon
followed by a converted try. Confidence and
patience are part of this Island sides make
up and the introduction of youngsters Tom Love
and Adam Bradshaw echoed this.
An Island score looked likely,
but it took until the last 5 minutes for this
promise to be fulfilled. Richard Jackson, on
his return after a four-week absence, ghosted
through a gap and as he was tackled meters
short he off loaded to Man of the Match Philip
Hemopo to dive over and score
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Date: Saturday
1st February 2003
Result: Ventnor 6 vs. Isle of Wight
25 |
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WHAT a difference a week makes
and a lethargic Ventnor side totally lacking
the drive of last week were no match for a
determined IW side anxious to clinch promotion
and to revenge last week's cup defeat.
The Island had first use of
the wind and sun and soon put Ventnor under
pressure. Both sides incurred the wrath of
the referee and a constant stream of penalties
stopped much in the way of fluent rugby but
it was no surprise when the Island went ahead
through an Andy White penalty goal.
Heartened by this the visitors
increased their lead through a dubious try
out wide. A rare Ventnor trip into Island territory
brought reward through a Dave Martin penalty.
But constant errors, poor lineout and casual
tackling by the home side always threatened
to allow the IW another score. And so it proved
as on the stroke of half time the visitors
scored a second try to turn round 13-3 ahead.
Despite having the use of
the wind Ventnor failed to raise their game
and the Island deservedly increased their lead
through another good try. Martin kicked a second
penalty but Ventnor rarely threatened and a
final IW assault led to the referee awarding
another doubtful try to end the match.
This was one of Ventnor's
worst performances of the season and leaves
them in deep relegation trouble. The Island,
however, celebrated a deserved promotion back
to Division 1.
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Date: Saturday
18th January 2003
Result: Isle of Wight 18 vs. Fleet
0 |
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THE ISLAND'S performance was
more focused than previous games and in front
of a large crowd and, following a minis game,
the result reflected it in this Hampshire League,
Division 2 game.
Fleet's large pack set about
the Island forwards but excellent tackling
and several turnovers by Sawle and New allowed
counter-attacks by Lucy. This eventually wore
down the Fleet pack and after 30 minutes the
ball was moved wide by Courage finding Palmer
on the right wing, who stretched for the corner
scoring the first try.
The remainder of the first
half left several chances for breaks going
to ground for the IW. The second half started
with the slope in the home team's favour.
After ten minutes a great turnover by Sawle and Palmer and quick thinking by
Augustus found Harley wide on the right with 70 yards to cover - he made 69
yards but back-up by White ensured the try.
Fleet still tried to impose
but with little possession, pickings were slim,
their only real chance coming from an interception
but Peters chased back, made the tackle. Minutes
later, again with Fleet's defence stretched,
Peters scored on the left wing. A last-minute
penalty by White ensured the Island remained
top of the division, unbeaten and not conceding
any points in six of their 11 games. IW play
Ventnor on Sunday in a cup game.
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