By Isle of Wight Observer
IW Rangers battled back from behind to win at Chichester, with Ventnor 2nd IV triumphant at home. In Division One, Hurricanes were disappointed to lose 20-30 at home to Bognor.
In Division Two, Isle of Wight won 36-31 away at Chichester II, after a travel-affected shortened warm-up, giving the home side early impetus with a line-out win. Midway through the first half, on the 5 metre line, Dan Bishop scored to narrow the gap to 5-14. When a George Huish kick was picked up by Luke Blackman to score, with Huish converting, the deficit was 2 points. Despite going further behind, the Islanders rallied and player-of-the-match and returning flanker, Sam Tregelles, drove forward, with Huish picking up a loose ball to score and then convert to end the half all square at 19 all.
After the break, Chichester took the lead, but play involving Harri Jones-Evans was high-tackled, with the award of a penalty try and yellow card for the opponents, giving IW the lead 26-24 with an extra player. With pressure telling, at a scrum 10 metres from the try-line, Luke Blackman found the ball at his feet to score wide out, and with Huish’s conversion the Islanders led by 9 points with 20 minutes remaining. Huish added a 40 metre penalty for a 12-point lead with the clock running down. There was still time for the home side to score in the last 5 minutes, with just enough time left for full-back, Dan Ward, to score and allow the Islanders to celebrate a much-deserved, and needed, 36-31 victory.
With Ventnor 1st XV losing 79-0 away at Portsmouth, Ventnor II XV overcame a strong Chichester side 31-12 at Watcombe Bottom in Premiership South. The spine of the side, Will Broomfield (8), Rosco Harris (9) and Harry Ottley (10) defined the Islanders’ approach under the inspired leadership of skipper, Jack Rushton. Ottley placed a kick behind the Chichester defence, chased by winger Luke Steele. Bob Parker picked the ball up, after Gav Davis and Harvey Wheeler disrupted the opposition defence, and scored, with Ottley converting. Player-of-the-match, Tim Davis, alongside Jim Pemberton and Ben Cooper put in shifts, resulting in Will Broomfield scoring his third try in two matches. Ottley converted again, with Ben Cooper and Olly Wood contributing his first try at the club, securing a bonus 4-try point, with conversion making it 26-0. This was added to by Wood’s sprint for a try and a lead of 31-0 at the break.
The visitors fought back in the second half, with injuries resulting in both sides reduced to 14 men. As Chichester got back into the match, Ventnor were unlucky not to add to their score when Tim Davis was stripped of the ball while touching down, and the ref called time on two tired teams.
Also in the Division, 2nd-placed Sandown & Shanklin 2nd XV won 64-0 at home to leaders Millbrook II XV.
This weekend sees Sandown & Shanklin Hurricanes welcome Guernsey II.