Sandown & Shanklin RFC 2nd XV played host to a strong Petersfield RFC 2dn XV outfit on Saturday. With this originally being a rest week in the fixture calendar and Hurricanes 1st XV playing away, the club fielded two full squads. The game started with both teams putting in some big collisions but, as proved to be the case all game, Petersfield's experience shone through and they were 0 - 17 ahead with a quarter of the game played. However, the score didn't tell the full story with Hurricanes fielding three debutantes and a handful of players returning for their first game in over two years. It was always going to be a tough afternoon, but the home side battled valiantly and had the better of the second quarter, dominating possession and territory with strong runs from the backline.

During the second half, with players beginning to tire and two yellow cards not helping the cause, the Tornadoes never gave up and a well-deserved try for Neil Addock got them onto the scoreboard. It was the least they deserved. More slick training ground moves and strong running allowed the visitors to run away with the game finishing 5-55, but full credit to a young inexperienced home side whose heads never dropped.

Special thanks to IWRFC for loaning a couple of players to bolster the squad and help strengthen Island rugby.

The SSRFC Tornadoes are back in action next weekend, as they play host to Tottonians RFC 3rd XV.