Sandown & Shanklin RFC 19 – 24 Chineham RFC

After a disappointingly close loss away to Fareham Heathens, Sandown & Shanklin had the chance to set the record straight against the travelling Chineham RFC. After have the game postponed by a week due to Chineham not being able to make it across the Solent, due to the ferries being cancelled. The game was rearranged to play a week later.
In what was expected to be a tight affair with both teams sitting in the middle of the league and with aspirations to push higher, both sides were not looking to take a backward step.

The game however did not begin in the best fashion for the Hurricanes. Playing up the hill into the wind, Chineham applied pressure from the off and after a lapse in the Hurricanes defensive line, and consistent offside infringements, Chineham found themselves 17 points up with only 25 minutes played. Hurricanes struggled to get the momentum going playing into the wind. Good play from James Flux and Neil Buckingham meant that Sandown were keeping Chineham at arm’s length in the first half from their own try line. However in the last few minutes of the first half Chineham capitalised on a mistake and managed to squeeze over in the corner making the score 0-24 at the half time interval.
Sandown & Shanklin were in disarray, however they came back out in the second half and immediately took the initiative with a powerful drives from second rows Luke Hunter and Captain Sam Flux. With the line out operating a little smoother in the second half, and a powerful maul by the forwards was pulled down short of the line, loosehead prop Henry Bagnall managed to squeeze over the line and get Sandown off the mark. As the momentum began to swing back in the favour of the Sandown, as Fly Half Neil Buckingham touch down in the corner to put the Hurricanes 14-24 down with 20 minutes remaining. At this point substitute Gregor Dean had helped swing the momentum with strong carrying that caused the Chineham defence real problems. After gaining territory in the Chineham 22 again, Sandown set up another maul, and off the back rolled Gregor Dean to cut the deficit and make the score 19-24 to Chineham. With time remaining the visitors rallied and began slowing up the Hurricanes momentum, which flared up at one moment, as the home side were keen to get on with the game. Into overtime, strong carrying from Man of the Match Sam Branston and the forwards, the Hurricanes carrying had accrued them another great position to launch an attack deep in the Chineham 22. However unfortunately Chineham managed to secure a penalty and kick the ball of the field to an away win, and the first loss at home for Sandown & Shanklin.
The Hurricanes are away to league topping Bognor this week, and looking for some revenge after some close results in the past few weeks.
Sandown & Shanklin RFC: 1. H Bagnall, 2. A Tyas, 3. C Skelley, 4. L Hunter, 5. S Flux ©, 6. S Rees, 7. Z Chiverton, 8. S Branston; 9. L Edmonston, 10. N Buckingham, 11. H Kirkby, 12. M Barrett, 13. S Tyson, 14. J Wetherick, 15. J Flux; Subs: L Gales, G Dean