Hurricanes Dent New Milton Promotion Chances

Hurricanes turn in top class team performance for departing coach

Considering the events that have occurred in the past seven days, the Club has been rocked as of late with the disappointing news that Head Coach Eamonn Carey would be stepping down, following the New Milton & District fixture.
Therefore with this news hanging over the Club and following the disappointing result against local rivals the Isle of Wight the previous weekend, the boys were spurned on to provide Eamonn with the perfect leaving present.

The game began as much expected, with New Milton looking to impose their physical game from the off. The Hurricanes defence held firm and forced the visitors to kick possession away, in an attempt to gain territory, however the home side back three failed to collect cleanly and when the ball was knocked on and an offside player collected the ball, it provided New Milton the opportunity to take the initiative. With the penalty converted, from the restart it was Sandown's turn to increase the pressure. From a resulting penalty, fly half Joel Carey kicked to the corner, and with the pressure from two successive driving mauls, a penalty was awarded five mteres. Captain on the day, deputising for Sam Rees, Sam Flux elected for the five metres scrum. As play continued from it, a handful of phases later saw number 8, Ben Allman crash over the line. Sam Tyson converted and edged the Hurricanes into the lead.
New Milton retsarted the game and with the kick off collected cleanly by Flux, the next phase saw man of the match Zak Chiverton dart through a whole in the defence and use his pace to race away to the try line from 60m. A quick three minute salvo, swinging the momentum frimly in the way of of the Hurricanes. 12 - 3. The remainder of the half was played out between the ten metre lines as both sides attempted to breakdown the opposing rugged defences. The half time whistle came with Sandown leaading the way.

The second half resumed with the home side looking to continue their moemtum from the first half, and they got off to the perfect start. With Andrew John on a long run up and on the receiving end of Jacob Jordan pass, he burst way through a gap for him to crash over. Flux converted and edged the hosts into a 19 - 3 lead. With the pressure from the mauls and the scrums starting to show, New Milton then went uncontested before the 60 min mark, neautralising one of the Hurricanes weapons. However, this did not halt the momentum from the varries around the park, with Chris Skelley and Henry Bagnall making yards around the field. Then with a clever crossfield kick, man of the match Harry Hopper rose highest and collected the ball, then with a shimmy past the last defender sprinted to the line putting the Hurricanes in an unassailable lead, 26 - 3.

With the game opening up more as the away side were looking to find a foothold to get back in the game, New Milton were starting to give away penalties, which allowed Sam Tyson and Joel Carey to kick the Hurricanes pack deep into the visitors territory. Zak Chiverton then scored his second or the game off the back of another customary strong line out maul. On debut, powerful centre Jack Wedderkop and his partner the elusive Matt Miselbach, causing issues for the New Milton in both defence and attack, as the youthful combination prevented the visitors from gaining momentum, and varying their play nicely.

In the final third of the game, New Milton rallied back with some strong carrying, and with the Hurricanes under some pressure for several minutes, the away side managed to score, when their centre crashed through the line. However, that was the final action of the match, as the Sandown found themselves in the New Milton 22. After some sustained pressure at the breakdown,
Ben Allman was found in space and scooted over the try line. Flux converted for a 38-8 victory in the end.

A positive note to end the week and a brilliant respsonse by the 18 players on the field. After such a tumultuous week, the performance from the boys on the day showed that they are more than a match for anyone on their day. Nevertheless, it also represented the hard work and dedication of Eamonn, who we would all like to thank and show appreciation, for all of the thankless time and effort he has put in to the Club, and helped get the boys to where they are now.

This weekend, the second XV are at home to Alresford. As well we are showing all of the Super Saturday Six Nation games, all are welcome down to the clubhouse.

XV: 1. Chris Skelley, 2. Zak Chiverton, 3. Andrew John, 4. Luke Hunter, 5. Sam Flux, 6. Henry Bagnall, 7. Ryan Carey, 8. Ben Allman; 9. Jacob Jordan, 10. Joel Carey, 11. Michael Barrett, 12. Jack Wedderkop, 13. Matt Miselbach, 14. Harry Hopper, 15. Sam Tyson.
Subs: 16. Adam Tyas, 17. David Greenough, 18. Harry Miselbach