The Hurricanes made the trip over to Guernsey for their penultimate fixture of the season, with the knowledge that a solitary point would secure Counties 1 rugby for the 2025/26 season. The visitors were looking to avenge their narrow loss at home a few weeks ago, and this edition of the battle of the islands delivered again.

The game started at a blistering pace, with the ball play for a very long opening stint. Both teams probing for an opening in the oppositions defence. Early pressure from hosts saw them convert a penalty for an 3 - 0 lead, as Sandown were judged to have gone of their feet at the ruck.
The opening try didn’t take long to follow and came the way of the Vikings. A penalty kick deep into the Sandown 22, gave the home side an excellent opportunity to launch a maul from the line out, where their pack powered over, the conversion missed, but the lead extended, 8 - 0.
From the restart the Hurricanes managed to apply pressure of their own, and with a strong performance in the scrum from Moore, Kulik and Booth, they were able to turnover possession and find territory of their own in Vikings half.

Strong carrying from Chiverton, Flux, Williams and kept the Hurricanes moving forwards, but for a little moments when possession was lost, prevented a score to retaliate. A tap penalty by Marriott had released Williams into space, but with slow support to the ruck he was turned over. This allows the Vikings to clear their lines, but the Hurricanes didn’t relent and moments later their strong carrying had earned them their first try. A tap penalty move saw the forwards barrelling to the try line and a handful of phases later, Williams had driven over the try line to score, Flux converted, to cut the deficit to a point, 8 - 7.

As the first half began to draw to a close, both teams battled for a foot hold before the interval. The game becoming a little fragmented with stoppages for injuries on both sides, and for the Hurricanes as Finan was replaced for Ormerod, the winger injured moments later but could not continue. This break seemed to help the hosts compose themselves, after being squeezed by the Hurricanes, and from scrum a well worked backs move saw their wingers combine on the edge to complete a two-on-one and streak down the touch line to score. The try converted, and the Vikings stretched their lead again, as the half time whistle came, 15 - 7.

Following the half time break the Vikings started the brighter of the two sides in the second half, as the Hurricanes energy dissipated from and started the last 40 minutes quietly. This presented the opportunity for the home side to pounce, as their fly-half spotted two forwards in front of him and with a neat dummy, made the break to score under the posts, for a converted try, 22 - 7.

The following restart didn’t reach the 10 metre line, and was followed by a scrum to restart. The excellent Hurricanes front five drove the hosts of their ball to accrue a penalty. This kick didn’t reach touch but moments later there was another scrum in a similar position and again a similar result, as Moore, Booth, Kulik, Winter and Jolliffe drove through the Vikings scrum. This time the kick made touch, and accrued the Hurricanes a handy position in the Guernsey 22. The resulting maul made in roads into the opposition 22, before carries from Joliffe, S Thomas and Flux got the ball upto the try line. A carry from Wightfibre Man of the Match, Luke Wedderkop on the open side was held short, but with the Vikings defence on the back foot, a score was imminent. With quick ball, and a number of options, Marriott found the right one option, with Chiverton going over under the posts to score, Flux again adding the conversion, 22 - 14. Vikings were also down to 14 men, following a yellow card to one of their back line.

Following the restart Sandown were adjudged to have gone offside, and so the home side elected to convert the penalty kick to increase their margin again, 25 - 14.

From the restart, it was the Hurricanes turn to force a penalty out of the hosts, and with a quick tap penalty by Flux, who fed Williams, who in turn offloaded to Sam Thomas, who cut a piercing line, Sandown found themselves on the Vikings try line again. The quick ball was spun wide to Ormerod for an easy score in the corner, and despite the conversion only just missing, the Hurricanes and put the pressure back on again, 25 - 19.

As both teams battled for the next blow, the Hurricanes soon found themselves on the back foot with the decisions and the referee. First Williams was shown a yellow card for late and high tackle, and sent to the sin bin. And with the man advantage the home side looked to make the most of territory in Sandown’s 22. The away sides defence was again showing great resilience in repelling the Guernsey carriers. But then one more drive had gotten the home side over the try line, and despite the great effort from Jolliffe to hold the ball up off the ground, the referee saw it differently and awarded the try, which was then converted, 32 - 19.

Despite the gutting score, the visitors rallied and using their strength in the scrum and around the park, and fresh legs in debutant Jordan Langdon, soon the Hurricanes had a promising scrum deep in the Vikings 22. Flux picked the ball from the base of the scrum and drove at the try line, the quick ball was then transferred by Marriott to Chiverton for his second of the afternoon, and importantly Sandown’s fourth, earning them a well deserved try bonus point. The difficult conversion was successful by Flux, cutting the margin between both, and even earning the Hurricanes a losing bonus point, if the score line remained the same in the final five minutes, 32 - 26.

However the dramatic climax never came for the away side. A penalty centre of the field on the Sandown 22, presented the home side the chance to push themselves out of danger and deny the Hurricanes a losing bonus point, 35 - 26. Nevertheless the visitors didn’t give and searched for one more score but it never came, and after another entry hello my game between the two island teams, it was Vikings who came on top this time around.

Despite the result the bonus point ensures Counties 1 rugby for Sandown & Shanklin in the 2025/26 season. Thank you to the hosts whose hospitality was much appreciated for the two day trip and the Hurricanes looked forward to some more exciting battles with their fellow islanders.

In the meantime, the final fixture of the sees the Hurricanes travel to old foes Ellingham & Ringwood, on Saturday 5th April. Details of a coach for supporters will be shared in the week. Then it will be onto the End of Season Awards night, on Saturday the 26th April, and the Vets on their way to Twickenham on Saturday 24th May.