The Hurries 2nds got exactly what they expected when they travelled to Southampton on Saturday, a tough bruising encounter with a strong well organised side. Sandown stuck to their game plan of getting the ball wide throughout the game and can be pleased with their afternoons work.

The first half started poorly for the travelling side as they weathered wave after wave of Trojans attack, the home side were constantly knocked back with the centre pairing of WIGHTLINK man-of-the-match Michael Cooper and Sam Tyson working overtime.

Sandown scored first after ten minutes when youngster Haydn Ambler intercepted a long pass in the Hurries 22 and he sprinted the length of the field to touch down with Lawrence Edmonston adding the extras. Sandown scored again when the hard running Wayne Williams off loaded to Cooper and he raced away to touch down with Edmonston converting 14-0 with twenty minutes gone.

Sandowns forwards were working hard as their far bigger opponents were gaining the upper hand at set plays but they worked hard and when they managed to secure clean ball they caused problems through Nick Heelan, Arthur Buxton and the impressive Williams who all made good ground to relieve the pressure.

Sandown scored their third just before half time as Sam Tyson touched down after a superb break and pass from Michael Cooper, Edmonston added the two points, half time 21-0 to the travelling side.

The second half was hard work for the Hurries with Trojans bringing on fresh legs in the forwards and they spent most of the half defending their line. They frustrated Trojans with solid defence from skipper McLaughlin, Adam Tyas, Ben Saville and Steve Smith who along with young Tom Borrer constantly turned Trojans over allowing Joel Carey to clear their lines with sensible kicking.

They held out for twenty five minutes but Trojans drove over for two converted scores to bring the score to 21-14. Sandown put the game beyond their hosts when Trojans infringed at the back of a scrum and from a quick penalty Williams raced away, Michael Cooper followed and took the pass to score his second of the game, Edmonston again converting. This seemed to knock the stuffing out of Trojans and with sensible kicking the remainder of the game was played out in the Trojans half giving Sandown a hard fought but well deserved away victory.

TEAM: McLaughlin, Tyas, Steele, Smith, Ambler, W Williams, Buxton, Heelan, Edmonston, J Carey, Linnington, Cooper, Tyson, Johnson, Borrer, Saville, M Keyworth

Try: Michael Cooper (2), Sam Tyson, Haydn Ambler
Conv: Edmonston (4)