Hurricanes Shine in Fading Light

In a scrappy match, played in driving rain and fading light, Hurricanes shone through to win thanks to a commanding second-half performance. The Island side had the perfect start, Will Baxandall converting a penalty kick after just two minutes, thanks to an offside infringement from the humorously-named Old Paulines.

But there was little to laugh about when, six minutes later, the Hurricanes conceded their first home try in the league this season, a mis-tackle allowing Old Paulines’ centre to dive over. Their conversion hit the post.

From then on the game was very much a cat-and-mouse affair, with metres gained and lost by both sides, and although the Hurricanes maintained the best possession, Old Paulines were dangerous on the break.

With ten minutes to go before the break, yet more infringements allowed Hurricanes the chance to re-take the lead, and Will Baxandall’s penalty was true. After Old Paulines hit the post again with a penalty, Hurricanes took no chances and a good five minutes of sustained pressure led to Richard Booth diving over line. The conversion was missed. Paulines’ day got worse when one of their players was sin-binned before the break.

The second half began with Old Paulines piling on the pressure and Hurricanes losing a player to the sin-bin, captain Joe Rees given ten minute out.

Paulines gained another try but yet again found the posts, leaving the score poised 11-10. However, that was the last time Hurricanes would be threatened as they pulled away for victory.

Substitute Alex Howard pounced on a defensive mistake for a converted try and Paulines scored a penalty kick which was countered by a Baxandall drop goal minutes later.The game was won when Joe Rees powered over the try line for an unconverted try.

WIGHTLINK man of the match was Sam Rees and the ZETA-pdm man of the match was Matt Jones.

Hurries from: Harris, Thomas, Skelley, Hunter, S.Rees, J.Rees, Carey, Tolley, Dove, Booth, Muir, Baxandall, Robinson, Chandler, Jones. Subs: Eldridge, Howard, Edmunds.