Good away win for seconds

Sandown travelled to basement side Havant on Saturday under no illusions that they were in for an easy game, the last three years have seen the home side come out on top by a couple of points in entertaining high scoring encounters. Coupled with that, in their last fixture Havant travelled to Eastliegh and inflicted only their second defeat on the high flying new boys.

Skipper Martin McLaughlin selected a strong side and they set about Havant right from the start. After five minutes the influential WIGHTLINK man-of-the-match Greg Dean burst away and off loaded to makeshift back rower Michael Cooper who was tackled on the opposition twenty two. At the break down Chris Perfect spotted a gap picked up and raced away for the first score. Fly half Gavin Boddrell converted and then kicked a long range penalty.

Wing Steve Johnson then got involved and fed Cooper who broke away, he waited for the support and Sam Tyson ran a superb line to take the ball and race over to score.

The Hurries final try came from a line out where second rower BJ MEATS man-of-the-match Michael Barrett, who took superb ball in the line out all day, not only took the line out, he supported the ensuing play to take the ball and sprint away to score.

Second row Barrett's line out jumping was spot on coupled with the throwing of hooker Adam Tyas this allowed the Hurries to win their own ball all afternoon. Havant were never out of the game and they chipped in with two scores of their own to take the half time score to 20 – 7.

Havant did exactly what the travelling side expected at the start of the second half and they hit Sandown hard early, scoring a couple of tries. Sandown though always kept themselves in front with scores from Michael Cooper and then Arthur Buxton and then a superb break saw Gavin Boddrell touch down.

Sandown saw the half out to seal the points and with sensible kicking in the last ten minutes frustrated the home side. Skipper McLaughlin can be pleased with his sides performance and things look promising as the Hurries enter the second half of the season.

TEAM: S Perfect, Tyas, McLaughlin, C Perfect, Barrett, Cooper, Buxton, Dean, Edmonston, Boddrell, Scott, Wetherick, Tyson, Johnson, Ruben, Lillington, M Keyworth.

Try:
Sam Tyson, Chris Perfect, Arthur Buxton, Gavin Boddrell, Michael Cooper, Michael Barrett

Conv:
Boddrell (2)

Pen:
Boddrell