IN A game where the weather hampered both sides, IW’s winning run came to an end at Romsey at the weekend, losing 20-13.
A penalty by George Huish after 15 minutes was the first score and appeared to galvanise the hosts, who were awarded a try after a delay.
The Islanders found themselves trailing 10-3 at the break, and pressure early on in the second half extended that deficit to 15-3.
The Islanders responded quickly, with Luke Blackman taking his team within seven points, but back came the home side – scoring their fourth try.
The Islanders battled to the end but it wasn’t to be, despite Blackman crashing over a second.
It was another disappointing day for Ventnor, who were thrashed 52-0 on the road to Christchurch.
The visitors started well, skipper Lewis Jones shining in the early stages, but found themselves trailing against the run of play.
Ventnor were on the back foot thereafter, and lost Lewis Morton and Ben Cooper to injury.
Fergus Kenny rolled back the clock with a powerful burst, but Christchurch held firm and the tries began to mount up.
Guy Entwistle will feel hard done by after being dismissed following an altercation, but it was one-way traffic for the most part and the hosts put Ventnor to the sword.
But while the first side faltered, Ventnor’s second team shined.
They took the game to Christchurch II from the off, with fly-half Max Wheeler slotting home an early penalty.
The hosts hit back soon after, but Ventnor’s response was swift – Wheeler setting up Dean Magnurson.
Christchurch managed to clear, but Will Broomfield’s seismic hit on the home team’s catcher saw Rosco Harris in for a try from the resultant set-piece.
Harris then doubled his tally from a scrum after Ottley and Callum Martin chased a kick from Wheeler.
Leading 5-13 at the break, Ventnor never relented, and the game ended 5-35.
Meanwhile, It was a resounding victory for Sandown and Shanklin, who overwhelmed Fordingbridge at The Fairway.
It was a dominant 101-5 win for the hosts, who set the tone from the first whistle.
Try after try flowed through the likes of Zak Chiverton, Michael Barret, George Finan, debutant Rob Eston, and Luke Wedderkop.
George Finan's powerful running earned him a try, and debutant Rob Eston made an instant impact, bagging two.
Leading 52-10 at the break, the second half continued in the same vein, with Hugo Jolliffe scoring after a powerful carry, and Finan bagging himself a hat-trick.
Barret also scored, Damian Seder burst through a hold in midfield, and Sam Flux’s quick thinking from a tap penalty caught the opposition off guard, with Rob Efton taking the hosts to 100 points.
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