LEADING Isle of Wight rugby side Sandown and Shanklin seamlessly continued their championship winning form of last season by notching up two wins from their opening two games in this campaign.
NEW MILTON 0, HURRICANES 27
Saturday saw the Hurricanes triumph in a pulsating away game against New Milton, in Hampshire Counties 1.
The team was aware it was set for a challenging match, after New Milton's comeback victory over promoted Guernsey outfit, St Jacques, the previous week.
Luckily, conditions were perfect, with sunshine and a dry track presenting no obstacles for expansive rugby.
New Milton found themselves under pressure early on, as the Hurricanes seized control.
However, missed opportunities allowed the hosts to clear their lines, but this hiccup didn't deter the Islanders.
Michael Barrett snatched possession from the opposition and scored an early try, which was converted, to make it 7-0.
Misfortune beset the visitors shortly after, when their captain, Sam Rees, suffered a broken wrist, followed by a neck injury to young prop, Ben Booth.
Despite the setbacks, the Hurricanes took advantage when two New Milton players were penalised for breakdown indiscretions.
Possession secured by Wightfibre man of the match, Damian Seder, led to an excellent winger's try by Ash Smith, which extended the lead to 12-0.
Persistent tackling and efficient breakdown work contained the hosts.
A third score came around the half-hour mark, with Barrett offloading to Newton, who charged over for a try.
This, combined with Burr's conversion, pushed the score to 19-0.
New Milton rallied before half-time, desperately seeking to claw back the deficit.
But the determined Hurricanes thwarted their efforts, with a stellar defensive performance, to end the first half with a decent lead and a shut out.
The second half mirrored the final moments of the first period, with New Milton striving to gain a foothold.
Once more, the Hurricanes fended off their attacks and converted resulting penalties into a 22-0 lead.
New Milton's attempts to rebound, led to a crucial Hurricanes fourth try, secured by Zak Chiverton.
Though the conversion was missed, the away team bagged a try bonus point.
Their score stood at 27-0, debutant Harry Thomas added to the Hurries' success with some promising play.
Despite the victory, injuries marred the result for the Islanders.
Post-match, Sandown and Shanklin's new director of rugby, Keith Wallace, said: "It was a phenomenal defensive effort from all 18 men who travelled over.
"To keep a side like New Milton, on their own patch, to nil — especially away from home — is no mean feat."
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