From left, Dan Robinson, Sam Rees and Luke Chandler make a tackle. Picture by Chris Thwaites.
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RUGBY
Sandown and Shanklin 10, Eastleigh 15
DESPITE making a bright start in their first home league match of the season, Sandown and Shanklin were undone by Eastleigh.
The hosts dominated early field position and possession but crucially, failed to convert two early penalty chances.
However, Sandown maintained the pressure with ball in hand, and mid-way through the first half took the lead with a well worked try.
Tidy work by back rows Wightlink man of the match Joe Rees and Sam Tolley fed Will Baxandall, who then set up Vicoma man of the match Andy Gough to touch down in the top corner.
However, rather than build on this advantage, Sandown began to concede possession and Eastleigh gained in confidence, and eventually equalised to make it 5-5 at the interval.
In the second half, Sandown regrouped and started brightly but seemed determined to kick away the possession they had, to little effect. Michael Booth and Sean Williams were introduced for Damian Marriott and Ben Kulik as the rolling replacements allowed this season helped to refresh the players.
Eastleigh though continued to press and from strung together several phases before scoring a converted try.
Then, Sandown had Joe Rees yellow carded and from the resulting Eastleigh penalty, they extended their lead to 15-5.
Sandown battled hard with 14 men and persistence paid off when Gough scored his second of the game. But they were unable to make more of their chances in the final moments.
Sandown and Shanklin: Pacy, Kulik, Eldridge, Hunter, Woolfenden, S. Rees, Tolley, J. Rees, Marriott, Bodrell, Gough, Robinson, Chandler, Baxandall, Monks, Harris, Williams, Booth.
Trojans III 14, Sandown and Shanklin II 28
Sandown’s second team prevailed in a tough match at Trojans with a good all-round performance.
After a poor start the visitors began to come into their own, with Wightlink man of the match Michael Cooper and Sam Tyson working overtime, and opening up a 21-0 first-half lead thanks to tries from Haydn Ambler, Cooper and Tyson, all converted by Lawrence Edmonston.
In the second half, Trojans fought back with two converted tries of their own before the points were sealed when Cooper touched down for his second of the game, Edmonston converting again.
Sandown and Shanklin: McLaughlin, Tyas, Steele, Smith, Ambler, W Williams, Buxton, Heelan, Edmonston, Carey, Linnington, Cooper, Tyson, Johnson, Borrer, Saville, Keyworth.
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