Isle of Wight beaten by Guernsey in battle of top two

                                        GUERNSEY II 33, ISLE OF WIGHT 12
ISLE OF Wight's superb unbeaten run in Counties 3 Hampshire came to an end in a battle of the top two in Guernsey.

The Rangers showed precisely why they were undefeated going into the match against the Guernsey seconds — better known as the St Jacques Vikings — by going toe-to-toe with them for long passages of the game yesterday (Saturday).

The Channel Islanders, this season's favourites to win the league, having racked up some big scores and averaging almost 70 points per game, will not have had a tougher match than this so far — and on their own patch.

Some of the Isle of Wight regulars were unable to make the trip, but the club still sent a strong squad to the Channel Islands for the fixture.

In the wet conditions, the Island began on the offensive, but when a move broke down, the Vikings' prolific centre raced in from distance to give the visitors a nightmare start.

However, it was an even contest for much of the half, with both sides having spells of possession in each other’s territory.

The Vikings proved to be more clinical and had a greater cutting edge in their attacking play.

They added two further converted tries to lead 21-0 after 35 minutes.

With the scoreline in danger of running away from the Island, they got on the scoreboard shortly before the interval.

A strong carry by Chris Ormerod set up field position, before skipper Luke Blackman’s
break was supported by Sam McQueen.

The latter linked well with speedy fly-half and Fountain Inn man of the match George Huish, who crashed over and converted his own try to pull the score back to 21-7.

The Vikings, who have built a reputation as a strong second half team this season, scoring a cavalcade of tries.

However, this was not to be the case this time, with the Isle of Wight sticking to their task superbly and enjoying plenty of possession in the Guernsey half.

Club chairman and Biffa man of the match, Stuart Browne, put in a notable shift out of position at scrum-half — he being the sole survivor of the last Isle of Wight RFC squad to play in Guernsey 18 years ago.

Others to impress were Adam Groves and Nick Joyce on their seasonal debut, while Tom Turtle made an impact off the bench.

Nevertheless, the pattern of the first half was repeated, with St Jacques making their pressure count and scoring two good tries — even if one was aided by poor Island defending.

With 20 minutes still to play, there was again the danger of a heavy defeat on the horizon, but the visitors dug in and deservedly scored the game’s final try.

From a well-rehearsed line-out move, a destructive Blackman carry saw him crash over the line for his customary score.

As conditions deteriorated, there would be no further scores, with the hosts' point win confirmed.

Isle of Wight may not have earned any points from the match, but earned plenty of respect from their opposition, having got much closer to them than most this season.

The return fixture will be in February.

As a result of their defeat, Isle of Wight dropped to third, but they do have a game in hand on second-placed Winchester II.

They host struggling Gosport & Fareham II on Saturday, with a 2.30 pm kick-off at Wootton Rec.

Before then, the seconds are back in action, as they travel to Sandown & Shanklin II on Friday night at 7pm.

Isle of Wight team: Ward, C.Browne, Jones-Evans, Ormerod, Rolfe, Huish, S.Browne, Newnham, McQueen, Keyes, Martin, Groves, Bennett, Webster, Blackman (capt). Replacements: Joyce, Rann, Turtle.