WITH A performance that required them to dig deep, Isle of Wight came away with the points against Aldershot and Fleet at Wootton Rec on Saturday.
ISLE OF WIGHT 17, ALDERSHOT & FLEET 10
Even with a long injury list, the Islanders started the game as strong favourites, given the clubs' respective league positions.
But it was Aldershot who looked the more accomplished side, rather than their bottom half status suggested on paper — and looked the likelier winners for long stretches of an entertaining fixture.
A couple of days of heavy rain, gave way to sunshine and a strong cross-field wind at kick-off.
The wet pitch made it difficult for the Islanders to execute their game plan — especially in a first half high on endeavour, but low on quality.
The North Hampshire outfit got off to a dream start — scoring first after seven minutes — when they took advantage of Isle of Wight's failure to hold on to a loose ball and winning a close range penalty, from which they battered their way across the try line.
Man of the match, Dave Hanson, cajoled his pack and the Island began to gain their share of territory.
But they were met with a determined defence and were repeatedly penalised at the breakdown.
They were also unusually under pressure in the scrum, with the big Aldershot pack with their tails up, while Isle of Wight were a little flat and error prone.
It took until the final play of the half before they levelled the scores, as chinks appeared in the armour — the prolific Luke Blackman bulldozing over for the try.
The score at the break was 5-5.
A tough team talk at half-time did not stir the Islanders into action immediately, with Aldershot back on top — regaining the lead nine minutes after the resumption, by exploiting a static home defence.
However, the score seemed to be the catalyst for an Island revival.
Their best rugby was played in the remainder of the game, though they had to work hard for everything against committed opposition.
A thrilling break by Blackman, supported by James Webster, was another key moment, with Dan Ward impressing at full back.
It was Blackman who applied the finish to IW’s second try to level it 10-10 — in the corner after some scintillating team play.
Isle of Wight, with a stable scrum, upped the pace against the tiring visitors — telling carries by Dan Bishop and Sam McQueen bringing them up to the try line.
It led to second-row, Brad Martin, plunging over for the winner, which Ward converted.
With ten minutes of injury time to be played, IW's hunt for the bonus point for a fourth try evaded them.
Isle of Wight remain third in the table.
Isle of Wight: Ward, Rolfe, Jones-Evans, McQueen, C.Browne, le Grange, Hanson, Newnham, Butler, Keyes, Martin, D.Bishop, J.Bishop, Webster, Blackman. Replacements: S.Browne, Wallace, Wynyard-Wright.
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