Fareham Heathens 14 - 12 Sandown & Shanklin RFC

On a day when even the ducks avoided the heavy rain and blustery wind, a tight, ball-stuffed-up-the-jersey, forward-dominated match was to be expected. From the off both sides were tentative, probing one another with high kicks and challenging catches. With the wind at their backs Fareham were the first to strike, when a high kick was lost in the swirling wind, as it came back down to earth, a favourable bounce allowed a grateful Fareham winger to capitalise and run in the corner. This galvanised Sandown, and from the restart they managed to regain possession within the Fareham half. After two rampaging runs from second row David Greenough, and a clever kick from Joel Carey, the Hurricanes were now on the Heathens five metre line. After gaining possession and powerful drives from the Sandown forwards, Man of the Match Luke Hunter crashed over. The resulting conversion was difficult, with the wind driving towards Lawrence Edmonston as he stepped up to strike it, the ball just drifted past the inside post. Good runs by wingers Ryan Mount and Steve Perfect kept troubling the Fareham defence and relieving the pressure on the Hurricanes defence. The remaining ten minutes of the half the Hurricanes were forced into defending their line as Fareham pinned Sandown in within their 22. After a stray finger was caught to David Graham's eye and a short injury break just before half time, the break and a lapse in concentration costed Sandown, as Fareham managed to squeeze over the line and convert, leaving the score at half time 14-5.

With the wind with them in the second half Sandown managed to keep Fareham contained in their half, and contained Heathens to only one visit to the Hurricane 22 in the second half. With the conditions becoming worse during the half, handling became much more difficult. Constant pressure from the Hurricanes forward pack saw them gain good yards consistently, however small indiscretions cost them at valuable times, coupled with Fareham managing to dig themselves out of trouble at key moments. The Hurricanes rallied and in the dying moments of the game the forwards and backs hand got up to the Fareham try line, and again Luke Hunter with support from Captain Sam Flux was bundled over the line to make the losing bonus point secure. Lawrence Edmonston converted to leave the final score at 14-12 to Fareham Heathens, with their captain admitting they had Fareham on the ropes and were lucky to hold out. A fantastic physical performance from the Hurricanes in tricky conditions, leaves them in good stead for the visit of Chineham next Saturday at the Fairway, Kick off at 1415.

XV: H Bagnall, A Tyas, S Flux, D Greenough, L Hunter, S Rees, R Carey, S Branston; L Edmonston, J Carey, R Mount, D Graham, M Barrett, S Perfect, T Borrer. Subs: C Perfect, J Flux